SCOREBOARD
Wednesday, Jan. 2
Detroit at Washington (7 p.m. EST). The Pistons have won nine straight.
STARS
Monday
-Gerald Wallace, Bobcats, finished with 36 points in Charlotte’s 107-103 overtime win over Indiana.
-Dwight Howard, Magic, had 17 points, 22 rebounds, five blocks and three steals, helping Orlando beat Chicago 112-110.
-Chris Bosh, Raptors, scored 29 points and Toronto rallied to beat New Orleans 97-92.
-Chris Kaman, Clippers, had 16 points and 16 rebounds, leading Los Angeles to a 91-82 win over Minnesota.
HIRED
Former Denver general manager Kiki Vandeweghe has joined the Nets as a special assistant to New Jersey president Rod Thorn. Vandeweghe, the Nuggets’ general manager from 2001-06, will help Thorn prepare for the NBA draft and evaluate players.
SNAPPED
Portland lost 111-101 to Utah on Monday, the Blazers’ first defeat since Dec. 2. Portland won its next 13, including two over Utah, and was three victories away from tying the franchise record. … Charlotte ended a four-game losing streak with a 107-103 overtime win Indiana on Monday. … New Orleans had its five-game winning streak snapped with a 97-92 loss to Toronto.
SLUMPING
Indiana lost for the sixth time after leading by double digits, 107-103 in overtime to Charlotte on Monday. … Minnesota is off to the worst start in the franchise’s 19-year history (4-26) and owns the league’s worst record after a 91-82 loss to the Clippers. The Timberwolves would have to go 12-40 the rest of the way to avoid tying their worst record – 15-67 in 1991-92.
STRONG IN DEFEAT
Ben Gordon scored 39, but Chicago lost 112-110 in overtime on Monday. … Rafer Alston scored a season-high 22 in Houston’s 112-95 loss to Golden State. … New Orleans’ Chris Paul had 23 points, 16 assists and seven rebounds in a 97-92 loss to Toronto.
STREAKING
Detroit has won nine straight following a 114-69 win over Milwaukee. … Orlando has won four straight after beating Chicago 112-110 in overtime.
SPEAKING
“Struggled? Oh my gosh. The guy has been great but today – forget the shooting, anybody is going to have a day like that – but some of those passes. We actually had point shaving allegations in our locker room after the game.” – Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy joking after Hedo Turkoglu turned the ball over seven times in Orlando’s 112-110 win overtime win against Chicago. Turkoglu hit the game-winner with 0.7 seconds left.