NBA Roundup
Published 12:00 am Sunday, January 7, 2007
Associated Press
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Pau Gasol had 22 points and 11 rebounds, Mike Miller added 27 points, and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the short-handed Toronto Raptors 110-104 on Saturday night in the debut of interim coach Tony Barone.
Memphis led by as many as 24 points, but had to withstand a late charge by Toronto to snap a five-game losing streak.
Barone took over on an interim basis after Mike Fratello was fired Thursday. Barone received a warm reception even when he came out of the tunnel before the game.
The Grizzlies showed a level of intensity and enthusiasm unseen in recent weeks while they were losing 14 of 16 games.
Chucky Atkins scored 16 for Memphis, while Stromile Swift had 15 points and 14 rebounds.
Magic 97, Heat 68
ORLANDO, Fla. — Dwight Howard had 18 points and 10 rebounds to lead Orlando over Miami, which lost its second straight without NBA finals MVP Dwyane Wade.
Also missing Shaquille O’Neal, who has appeared in only four games this season, the Heat conceded the paint to Orlando. The Magic outscored Miami inside 50-14, and commanded the game for all but the opening minutes.
Orlando snapped a four-game losing streak and extended the Heat’s skid to three games.
Nets 100, T-Wolves 92
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Richard Jefferson scored 23 points and Mikki Moore had a career-high 20 to lead New Jersey over Minnesota.
Jason Kidd added 19 points and Vince Carter scored 14 as the Nets posted a second straight win following a four-game losing streak.
Bulls 103, Cavaliers 96
CHICAGO — Luol Deng scored a career-high 32 points, and the Chicago Bulls went on a 24-point run in the second half of a 103-96 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Ben Gordon hit his first three shots and was 8-of-18 on his way to 21 points. P.J. Brown added 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Malik Allen scored 10 points after sitting out the first half.
LeBron James scored 33 for the Cavs.
Mavericks 94, Hornets 80
DALLAS — Jason Terry scored 25 points, Dirk Nowitzki had 17, and the Dallas Mavericks extended their winning streak to nine games with a 94-80 victory over the injury-depleted New Orleans Hornets.
Chris Paul sat out his third straight because of a sprained right ankle that will keep him sidelined for a month.
Also out for the Hornets, who knocked off the Denver Nuggets in Oklahoma City on Friday night, were Salisbury native Bobby Jackson (cracked rib), Peja Stojakovic (back surgery) and David West (right elbow).
Bucks 119, Wizards 102
MILWAUKEE — Michael Redd scored 28 points and Ruben Patterson added 21 as the Milwaukee Bucks beat Washington 119-102 Saturday night to snap the Wizards’ five-game winning streak.
The loss dropped Washington into a first-place tie with Orlando in the Southeast Division.
Gilbert Arenas, averaging 30.7 points, was held to 19 on 7-of-21 shooting.
Jazz 96, Trail Blazers 86
SALT LAKE CITY — Mehmet Okur scored 20 points, Carlos Boozer added 19 points and 10 rebounds, and the Utah Jazz beat the Portland Trail Blazers 96-86.