SCOREBOARD
Thursday, Jan. 17
Phoenix at L.A. Lakers (10:30 p.m. EST). The Lakers have won seven straight, their longest winning streak since March 2004.
STARS
Wednesday
– Gerald Wallace, Bobcats, had 36 points and 14 rebounds in Charlotte’s 99-93 victory over Orlando.
– Ray Allen, Celtics, scored a season-high 35 points in a 100-90 win over Portland.
– Jamal Crawford, Knicks, scored a season-high 35 points and hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer, leading New York to a 111-105 victory at New Jersey.
REELING
Ben Gordon scored 24 points, Joe Smith added 23 and the Chicago Bulls handed Miami its 11th straight loss, beating the Heat 126-96 on Wednesday night. Shaquille O’Neal had 24 points and 10 rebounds in his return to Miami’s lineup.
REBOUNDING
and 10 from Eddie House. Boston had lost its last two games, both to Washington.
FROM WAY BACK
Gerald Wallace had 36 points and 14 rebounds, Jason Richardson hit a 3-pointer and four free throws in the final minute, and the Charlotte Bobcats rallied to beat the Orlando Magic 99-93 on Wednesday night. The Bobcats, who trailed by 19 points early in the third quarter, avoided a season sweep against the Magic with a remarkable comeback to continue a wild stretch of close finishes and big wins. … Danny Granger scored 29 points, and the Indiana Pacers overcame a 17-point deficit in the second half to beat the Golden State Warriors 125-117. Indiana’s Mike Dunleavy had 24 points and nine rebounds against his former team, and Kareem Rush scored 14 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter for the Pacers.
STRONG IN DEFEAT
Dwight Howard had 24 points and 21 rebounds in Orlando’s 99-93 loss to Charlotte on Wednesday night. … Golden State’s Baron Davis had 24 points, seven assists, seven steals and six rebounds in a 125-117 loss to Indiana.
SPEAKING
“That was as complete a loss as you can have. The team didn’t quit, it’s just bad. … When you give up 126 points defensively at home and you’ve already lost 10 in a row, it’s bad. I have now, tonight, at this moment, no answers for it.” – Heat coach Pat Riley said after Miami’s 126-96 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night. It was Miami’s 11th loss in a row.