Manu Ginobili made a career-high eight 3-pointers and scored 46 points as the San Antonio Spurs downed the Cleveland Cavaliers 112-105 in the NBA on Wednesday.
Back on the court where they claimed the NBA title last year, the Spurs went 7-of-8 on 3-pointers, and shot 78 percent in the final 12 minutes.
Hitting shots from every corner of the floor, Ginobili scored 18 points in the fourth quarter.
Rockets 89, Kings 87
In Houston, Steve Novak hit a 3-pointer with two seconds left as Houston beat Sacramento.
The Kings rallied from an 18-point fourth quarter deficit and took the lead with 24 seconds left.
But Tracy McGrady drove into the lane and flicked the ball out to Novak for the winning shot.
Lakers 117, Timberwolves 92
In Minneapolis, Kobe Bryant scored 29 points to lead Los Angeles to victory over Minnesota.
Pau Gasol pitched in another well-rounded game, Lamar Odom had a triple-double, and the Lakers moved within a game of Pacific Division leader Phoenix.
The Timberwolves lost their fifth straight game to remain rooted to the bottom of the Western Conference.
Pistons 96, Pacers 80
In Auburn Hills, Michigan, Detroit beat Indiana to win its 10th straight game.
Chauncey Billups, Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton led a balanced attack with 14 points each for the Pistons, who are behind only Boston for the NBA's best record.
It was the Pistons' first season sweep of the Pacers since 1984-85.
Celtics 111, Knicks 103
In Boston, the home side beat New York to head into the All-Star break with a five-game winning streak.
Paul Pierce scored 24 points, and his newly minted All-Star teammate Ray Allen added 21 for the Celtics, who lost forwards Brian Scalabrine to a groin strain and Glen Davis to a quadriceps injury in the first half.
Warriors 120, Suns 118
In Oakland, California, Monta Ellis scored 37 points to send Golden State into the All-Star break with a win over Phoenix.
Baron Davis made three straight baskets down the stretch and the Warriors held on to win.
Magic 109, Nuggets 98
In Orlando, Florida, Rashard Lewis scored 25 points to lead Orlando over Denver.
Dwight Howard had 23 points and 24 rebounds for the Southeast Division-leading Magic.
Mavericks 96, Trail Blazers 76
In Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki scored a season-high 37 points as Dallas downed Portland.
The victory came amid uncertainty over whether the Mavericks had secured New Jersey's Jason Kidd, with the trade hitting a snag when Dallas' Devean George opted out of a proposed player swap.
Portland goes into the All-Star break having lost four straight to slip out of playoff contention.
In other NBA action on Wednesday it was:
* Bobcats 100, Hawks 98 OT
* Hornets 111, Bucks 107
* Wizards 91, Clippers 89
* 76ers 102, Grizzlies 88
* Jazz 112, Supersonics 93
* Raptors 109, Nets 91
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Zhang Shuai yesterday said that she nearly quit after losing 24 matches in a row — now the world No. 595 is into the quarter-finals of her home China Open. The 35-year-old is to face Spain’s Paula Badosa as the lowest-ranked player to reach this stage in the history of the tournament after Badosa reeled off 11 of the last 12 games in a 6-4, 6-0 victory over US Open finalist Jessica Pegula. Zhang went into Beijing on a barren run lasting more than 600 days and her string of singles defeats was the second-longest on the WTA Tour Open era, which
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