EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -Richard Jefferson scored 25 points, including two game-winning free throws with 24 seconds to play, and New Jersey rallied for an 87-85 victory over winless Washington on Thursday night.
The Nets’ fourth victory in five games wasn’t secured until Antoine Wright forced Gilbert Arenas to his right and the Washington guard had to take an off-balance shot that was deflected by Vince Carter.
Carter had 24 points, including 12-of-14 from the line, to help New Jersey rally from a 20-point first-half deficit. Bostjan Nachbar had 10 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter, when the Nets shot 65 percent.
Antawn Jamison had 24 points and nine rebounds for Washington, while Caron Butler and Arenas both had 21 points.
The 0-4 start is the first for Washington since 1992-93.
Bulls 97, Pistons 93
CHICAGO (AP) – Tyrus Thomas had 19 points and 14 rebounds and Chicago got its first victory after opening the season with four losses.
Rasheed Wallace had 36 points for Detroit in the first meeting between the teams since the Pistons won the Eastern Conference semifinals in six games last spring.
Luol Deng added 17 points and Ben Gordon had 16 for the Bulls, while Kirk Hinrich had 14 assists.
Richard Hamilton scored 18 points for the Pistons, who lost after winning their first three games.
Chicago’s Joe Smith made one of two from the line to make it 96-93 and the Pistons had a chance to tie. Hamilton’s 3-pointer was short and the Bulls rebounded with 2.9 seconds left. Thomas’ free throw sealed the victory.
Wallace was 12-of-24 from the field and had nine rebounds.
Mavericks 120, Warriors 115
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) – Dirk Nowitzki scored eight of his 22 points in the fourth quarter and Jerry Stackhouse hit a 3-pointer with 37 seconds left for Dallas.
Jason Terry and Josh Howard both had 24 points as the Mavericks snapped a five-game regular-season losing streak against the Warriors, who dressed just 10 players and fell to 0-5.
It was the teams’ first meeting since eighth-seeded Golden State’s first-round victory over top-seeded Dallas last spring in perhaps the biggest upset in NBA playoff history.
Baron Davis scored 15 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter as Golden State used a six-man rotation. He missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer with 4 seconds to play.
Kelenna Azubuike had 27 points and a career-high 10 rebounds for the Warriors, who had a short bench because of injuries and the suspension of Stephen Jackson, their defensive leader against Nowitzki last spring.
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