SCOREBOARD
Thursday, Dec. 13
Washington at Miami (8 p.m. EST). The Heat (6-15) are trying to win three straight for the first time this season.
STARS
Tuesday
-Larry Hughes, Cavaliers, scored 36 points and Cleveland beat Indiana 118-105.
-Chauncey Billups, Pistons, had 28 points and 14 assists to lead Detroit past Memphis 113-103.
-Martell Webster, Trail Blazers, scored 25 points to help Portland get its second win on the road this season, a 97-89 triumph over Utah.
.500
Washington (11-10) beat Minnesota 102-88 Tuesday night to move above .500 for only the second time all season. … Atlanta (10-11) fell to Toronto 100-88 and was denied in its attempt to move over .500 after 20 or more games for the first time since 1998-99, its last playoff season.
NEW JERSEY BLUES
Chris Kaman and Tim Thomas both scored 18 points and Kaman grabbed 14 rebounds to lead the Clippers past the Nets 91-82 on Tuesday night for their first win in New Jersey since Jan. 15, 1998. The Nets have lost eight of their last nine games at home. New Jersey shot 32 percent (26-for-81), including an abysmal 5-for-25 in the fourth quarter in the loss.
SUPER SUB
Larry Hughes came off the bench and scored a season-high 36 points in just 26 minutes, and Cleveland snapped a six-game losing streak with a 118-105 victory over Indiana on Tuesday night. It was his second game back after missing 11 with a bruised leg. Hughes finished 13-of-17 from the field. The last time a Cleveland reserve scored 36 points or more was Phil Hubbard (37) in 1984.
STREAKS
Antawn Jamison had 22 points and 13 rebounds for his seventh consecutive double-double in Washington’s 102-88 win victory over Minnesota on Tuesday night. That matches the longest streak of his career – something he hadn’t done since Dec. 27, 2000, to Jan. 8, 2001. … Detroit beat Memphis 113-103 to win its seventh in the last eight games and hand the Grizzlies their fifth straight loss.
SNAPPED
LeBron James scored 17 minutes in 22 minutes after a five-game absence to help Cleveland beat Indiana 118-105 Tuesday night and snap a six-game losing streak. The Cavaliers set season highs in points and field-goal percentage (55) in the win. … Golden State beat San Antonio 96-84 to snap the Spurs’ five-game winning streak. San Antonio hadn’t lost since its last trip to Northern California – a 112-99 defeat at Sacramento on Nov. 26.
STRONG IN DEFEAT
Craig Smith scored a career-high 36 points in Minnesota’s 102-88 loss to Washington on Tuesday night. … Carlos Boozer scored 29 points and grabbed 13 rebounds but Utah lost to Portland 97-89.
SPEAKING
“We scored close to 100 points. We scored close to 50 in the half, and we weren’t even in the game. If you don’t defend in this league, you can’t be in the game.” – Seattle coach P.J. Carlesimo after the Sonics’ 123-96 loss to Chicago on Tuesday night. The Bulls’ 123 points were their most in regulation since a 128-102 win over Philadelphia on April 7, 1997.