SCOREBOARD
Saturday, Dec. 8
Sacramento at Denver (9 p.m. EST). Allen Iverson has scored 86 points in the last two games combined for the Nuggets.
STARS
Friday
-Chris Paul, Hornets, scored a career-high 43 points to help New Orleans edge Memphis 118-116 in overtime.
-Manu Ginobili, Spurs, had 37 points to help San Antonio defeat Utah 104-98.
-Kevin Durant, SuperSonics, matched his career high with 35 points, leading Seattle over Milwaukee 104-98.
-Yao Ming, Rockets, had 25 points and 11 rebounds and Houston never trailed in a 96-89 victory over New Jersey.
-Danny Granger, Pacers, scored a season-high 27 points to lift Indiana over Orlando 115-109.
HOME COOKIN’
.
HOT AND COLD
Baron Davis finished with 25 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter, and Golden State beat Miami 120-113 Friday night for its 11th win in 13 games. It was the fifth straight loss for the Heat.
NO DUNCAN, NO PROBLEM
Manu Ginobili had 37 points for the second straight game, and San Antonio beat Utah 104-98 Friday night for its fifth straight victory. The Spurs remained unbeaten at home despite playing their second straight game without Tim Duncan, who is recovering from a sprained ankle.
CAREER-BESTS
Chris Paul hit a driving layup through a crowd of defenders with 1.8 seconds left in overtime, capping New Orleans’ 118-116 victory over Memphis on Friday. Paul made five 3-pointers on his way to 43 points, both career highs, to go with nine assists and four steals. The Hornets, winners of four of six, won their 12th straight overtime game dating to the 2005-06 season. It was also their third overtime victory this season, the second against the Grizzlies.
STREAKING
ets have won two straight and five of seven overall following a six-game skid.
SNAPPED
Chris Kaman had 26 points and 12 rebounds to help the Los Angeles Clippers snap a seven-game losing streak with a 97-87 victory over Sacramento on Friday. … Andres Nocioni scored 22 points and Ben Wallace pulled down 13 rebounds to lead Chicago over Detroit 98-91 and stop the Pistons’ winning streak at five games. The Bulls have won four of five. … Samuel Dalembert scored 20 points to help Philadelphia snap a three-game losing streak with a 101-90 win over New York.
STRONG IN DEFEAT
Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer had 28 points apiece for Utah in a 104-98 loss to San Antonio on Friday. Williams also had 10 assists for the Jazz, who haven’t won in San Antonio since 1999. … Michael Redd finished with a season-high 41 points, including 25 in the second half, but Milwaukee fell to Seattle 104-98. … Dwyane Wade scored a season-high 33 points and added 10 assists in Miami’s 120-113 loss to Golden State. … Dwight Howard scored 30 points and pulled down 15 rebounds in Orlando’s 115-109 loss to Indiana. … Rudy Gay had 31 points and Mike Miller also scored 26 in Memphis’ 118-116 overtime loss to New Orleans. … Jamal Crawford chipped in 28 points but New York fell to Philadelphia 101-90.
STILL OUT
LeBron James didn’t practice Friday and will miss his fifth straight game with a sprained left index finger when Cleveland plays Saturday night at Charlotte. The Cavaliers have been beaten by an average margin of nearly 19 points in their losing streak without James.
SPEAKING
“Pretty crazy, right?” – Phoenix’s Raja Bell, after the Suns registered 42 assists on 50 field goals in a 122-107 victory over Washington on Friday. Steve Nash delivered a season-high 19 assists in the win.