Pacers 74, Bobcats 71

Pacers 74, Bobcats 71
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Jermaine O'Neal had 24 points and 17 rebounds, and Indiana won back-to-back for the first time in December. O'Neal didn't have a great shooting night, going just 9-for-24, but gave the Pacers a tremendous lift and a low-post presence. In the three games he's played since an arbitrator reduced his 25-game suspension to 15, O'Neal has 61 points and 35 rebounds. He will go before a federal judge Thursday in New York, to learn if he can continue to play or must sit out the final 10 games of the suspension for his part in the Pacers-Pistons brawl last month. Emeka Okafor had his 17th consecutive double-double with 16 points and 15 rebounds for Charlotte.
Knicks 100, Timberwolves 87
NEW YORK -- Stephon Marbury took over down the stretch and finished with 32 points and 11 assists for the Knicks. Marbury scored 15 of his points in the final quarter, including a personal 9-2 run that gave New York a 94-85 lead with 1:46 to go. Nazr Mohammed added 19 points, and Kurt Thomas limited Kevin Garnett to 17 -- more than six below his average. Latrell Sprewell added 22 points and Sam Cassell 20 for Minnesota.
Suns 107, Hornets 96
NEW ORLEANS -- Quentin Richardson broke a franchise record with nine 3s and finished with 31 points and 11 rebounds for Phoenix. Steve Nash had 22 points and nine assists as the Suns improved their NBA-best record to 25-4. J. R. Smith scored a career-high 23 points for New Orleans, which also got 18 from Baron Davis and P.J. Brown.
Grizzlies 117, Celtics 109
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Pau Gasol had 24 points and 11 rebounds, and Memphis rallied in the final period. After trailing most of the game, the Grizzlies launched an 18-3 run to begin the fourth quarter and take a 101-97 lead. Memphis also got 18 points from Bonzi Wells. The Celtics were led by Raef LaFrentz with 28 points. Paul Pierce and Walter McCarty added 18 points apiece.
Pistons 107, Wizards 105
WASHINGTON -- Chauncey Billups hit a 14-foot jumper with 0.7 seconds left to give Detroit a come-from-behind victory. The Pistons overcame a 19-point first-half deficit and trailed by as many as 15 in the third quarter. Billups scored 10 of his season-high 32 points in the final five minutes, and Rasheed Wallace had 12 of his 23 in the final quarter. Gilbert Arenas scored 34 points, and Larry Hughes had 30 to go with seven assists and six steals for the Wizards.
Bucks 111, Magic 105
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Michael Redd scored 29 points and short-handed Milwaukee got 15 points and a career-high 14 rebounds from Dan Gadzuric. The Bucks had only 11 players in uniform because of injuries. Desmond Mason added 21 points. Steve Francis nearly had a triple-double for Orlando with 24 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists. Grant Hill added 26 points for the Magic, undone by 23 turnovers.
Associated Press