AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -Rasheed Wallace had 26 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Detroit Pistons to a 100-95 win over Miami on Wednesday night, a few hours after the Heat traded Shaquille O’Neal.
The Heat sent O’Neal, who won his fourth title in Miami two years ago, to Phoenix for four-time All-Star Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks.
If the Heat were down emotionally about the deal, which was announced within hours of tipoff, they didn’t show it. Miami led 22-18 after the first quarter and despite trailing by 11 after the third, the short-handed team did not give up.
Dwayne Wade, who had 30 points and 12 assists, pulled the Heat within a point with just under 3 minutes left and he set up Ricky Davis’ 3-pointer to make it 94-92 with 21.5 seconds left.
Richard Hamilton and Chauncey Billups made enough free throws on the next three possessions to seal the win for the Pistons, who have won sixth straight.
Miami, the NBA’s only team without 10 wins, has lost five in a row and 20 of 21.
Celtics 111, Clippers 100
BOSTON (AP) – Rajon Rondo scored a career-high 24 points to go with eight assists and five rebounds, coming back from a flagrant foul that knocked him to the floor to lead the Celtics.
A night after losing by one point in overtime to Cleveland, the Celtics avoided a losing streak despite missing All-Star Kevin Garnett for the fifth straight game. The rest of Boston’s starters got some time off, too, sitting out all but the final minute of the fourth quarter while the reserves handled the Pacific Division-trailing Clippers.
Ray Allen scored 19 and Paul Pierce had 15, with reserve Leon Powe adding 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Corey Maggette had 33 points and eight rebounds and sub Cuttino Mobley scored 16 for the Clippers, who beat the New York Knicks on Monday night to snap a nine-game road losing streak.
Magic 100, Nets 84
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – Dwight Howard had 21 points and 13 rebounds as the Orlando Magic avenged a one-point loss to the New Jersey Nets last month.
Vince Carter led the Nets with 18 points, while Jason Kidd had 13 points and seven assists.
Six Magic players scored in double figures. Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis both scored 19, and Keyon Dooling, Brian Cook and Jameer Nelson each added 11.
A month earlier, the Nets surprised the Magic at Amway Arena by overcoming an 11-point fourth quarter deficit to win 96-95. At that point, New Jersey was on its third of an eventual five-game winning streak. Now, the Nets have lost 13 of their last 16, and three straight by double digits.
Hawks 98, Lakers 95
ATLANTA (AP) – Joe Johnson scored 28 points, including four free throws in the final 23 seconds, and the Atlanta Hawks beat Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers.
With Atlanta leading 95-93, Bryant was called for a turnover with 8 seconds left. Bryant, pressured by Johnson, lost control of the ball and was called for over-and-back when he regained possession past the midcourt line.
Bryant and the Lakers argued that Johnson hit the ball.
Josh Smith, who had 17 points, nine rebounds, nine assists and five blocks, hit one of two free throws with 7.1 seconds left to push the lead to three points. Sasha Vujacic answered with a layup for the Lakers with 3.7 seconds left.
The Lakers quickly fouled Johnson, who made two free throws, and Derek Fisher missed a last-second 3-pointer.
Hawks rookie center Al Horford had 15 points and a career-high 20 rebounds. Lamar Odom led the Lakers with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
Spurs 85, Wizards 77
WASHINGTON (AP) – Robert Horry got the San Antonio Spurs in gear after a lackluster 2 1/2 quarters, scoring seven of his season-high nine points in the 17-4 spurt that gave his team the lead for good.
Tim Duncan had 23 points, nine rebounds and four assists, and Fabricio Oberto had 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Spurs, who are 3-2 on their nine-game rodeo road trip and improved to .500 (11-11) on the road this season.
Antawn Jamison scored 18 points, and Andray Blatche had 16 points and a career-high 15 rebounds for the Wizards, who have lost five straight. Washington again played without All-Star forward Caron Butler, who sat out for the fourth time in six games because of a strained left hip flexor.
Pacers 103, Knicks 100
NEW YORK (AP) – Kareem Rush scored 24 points, and the Indiana Pacers used a strong defensive effort in the fourth quarter to snap a seven-game losing streak.
Mike Dunleavy added 17 points and Danny Granger had 16 for the Pacers, who held the Knicks to three field goals in the final 8 1/2 minutes, an impressive turnaround after they surrendered 116 points against San Antonio on Tuesday in their most lopsided loss of the season.
Marquis Daniels had a strong final quarter and finished with 13 points in Indiana’s franchise-best third straight victory in New York.
Zach Randolph scored 26 points for the Knicks, who dropped their seventh straight.
Add A Comment