Sunday, December 16, 2007 Nets catch win vs. Cavaliers after 4 losses
EAST RUTHERFORD—Vince Carter matched a season high with 32 points, Richard Jefferson had 24, and the New Jersey Nets snapped a four-game losing streak with a 105-97 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night.
Reserve Josh Boone added a season-high 15, even though he was 2-for-4 from the line when the Cavs intentionally fouled him on consecutive possessions in the fourth quarter. Boone, who threw up an airball from the line earlier, was 3-of-8 there overall.
LeBron James had 29 points, eight assists and six rebounds for Cleveland, which has lost seven of eight, five without James.
Celtics 104, Bucks 82
At Boston, Paul Pierce scored a season-high 32 points and Kevin Garnett had an easy 15 with seven rebounds as the Boston Celtics overcame Ray Allen’s absence to match the franchise record with a 12-0 start at home.
With Allen sitting out a game or two to rest a sore ankle, Tony Allen started and scored 11 points. Rajon Rondo scored 17—one off his season high—with eight assists for Boston, which also won its first 12 home games in 1984 en route to the ’85 NBA finals.
Garnett played just 29 minutes for the Celtics, who pulled away when they outscored Milwaukee 32-15 in the third quarter.
Mo Williams scored 14 for the Bucks, Bobby Simmons had 11 and Yi Jianlian scored 10.
Mavericks 89, Hornets 80
At Dallas, Jason Terry scored 25 points and Jerry Stackhouse added 16, and Dallas beat cold-shooting New Orleans even with another off night from Dirk Nowitzki.
The reigning league MVP had only seven points on 2-of-8 shooting, and is 8-of-23 from the floor over the last two games. But he got some help from Josh Howard, who finished with 15.
New Orleans got within 83-78 in the final minute before Dallas put it away by hitting six straight free throws in the final 30 seconds.
Chris Paul scored 22 points for the Hornets on 9-of 21 shooting.
Magic 103, Bobcats 87
At Charlotte, North Carolina, Dwight Howard had 33 points and 18 rebounds to help Orlando snap a three-game losing streak.
Hitting the court an hour after a trade that sent starting center Primoz Brezec and forward Walter Herrmann to Detroit for center Nazr Mohammed, the Bobcats were no match for Howard inside.
Hedo Turkoglu added 22 points for the Magic, who improved to an NBA-best 12-3 on the road and snapped out of their recent doldrums after their surprising 16-4 start.
Raymond Felton scored 18 points and Gerald Wallace scored 16 points on 6-of-19 shooting for Charlotte, which blew a 13-point third-quarter lead.
Kings 109, 76ers 99
At Philadelphia, Brad Miller had 25 points and 10 rebounds, Mikki Moore tied his career-high with 24 points and the Sacramento Kings became the final NBA team to win a road game.
John Salmons contributed 19 points and Beno Udrih had 15 for the Kings, who entered the game with nine straight road losses to open a season, matching a team record set in 1987-88 and again in 1993-94.
Andre Miller scored 24 points, Willie Green added 16 and Andre Iguodala and Lou Williams had 15 apiece for Philadelphia, which had its season-best four-game win streak snapped.
Raptors 104, Pacers 93
At Indianapolis, Jason Kapono scored 17 of his career-high 29 points in the fourth quarter to lead Toronto to its fourth straight win.
Chris Bosh had 22 points and 16 rebounds, and Jose Calderon had a career-high 16 assists and 18 points for the Raptors (14-10), who overcame a 17-point third-quarter deficit.
Mike Dunleavy scored 23 points and Jamaal Tinsley added 19 points and 10 assists for the Pacers (11-12).
Detroit 91, Atlanta 81
At Auburn Hills, Michigan, Chauncey Billups scored 23 points and Tayshaun Prince added 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Richard Hamilton added 18 points for Detroit, which has won eight of its last 10. (AP)
