Saturday, February 28, 2004
Celtics 88, Raptors 75
BOSTON -- In a matchup of teams with seven-game losing streaks, Paul Pierce scored 21 points and Brandon Hunter grabbed 16 rebounds in his second career start to lead Boston past Toronto. The seven-game losing streak was the Celtics' longest since they dropped 10 in a row from March 20 to April 7, 2000. The Raptors, who have dropped to seventh place in the East, held the lead only once in the first quarter and never rebounded from a nearly three-minute scoring drought in which the Celtics took a 30-18 lead. Mark Blount had 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Celtics, and Hunter and Jiri Welsch added 11 points each.
Timberwolves 91, Warriors 81
MINNEAPOLIS -- Kevin Garnett had 24 points, nine rebounds and nine assists as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Golden State Warriors for the first time this season. Minnesota, which has now defeated every other NBA team this season, lost to the Warriors in both of their previous meetings. The Wolves took the lead for good when Garnett beat Mike Dunleavy for an offensive rebound and the ball was swung to Fred Hoiberg for a 3-pointer to put Minnesota up 62-59. That basket keyed a 16-4 run that erased a 57-52 Warriors' lead.
Hornets 89, Pacers 77
NEW ORLEANS -- Jamal Mashburn scored 22 and Baron Davis 18, and the New Orleans Hornets snapped Indiana's four-game winning streak. Austin Croshere's 3-pointer pulled Indiana to 78-70 with a little over four minutes to go, then Davis took control. He answered with a 3 of his own, drew a charge on Al Harrington's drive, then slipped a pass underneath to P.J. Brown for a dunk, putting the Hornets up 83-72 with three minutes left. Mashburn's turnaround fade with 2:16 left finished off the Pacers.
Pistons 105, Hawks 83
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton each had 20 points, and four other Detroit Pistons scored in double figures. Rasheed Wallace didn't do much -- and didn't have to -- against the team he played just one game for before being traded to Detroit. He made just two of 10 shots and had six points and six rebounds. Detroit has won three straight after losing its first two games with Wallace.
Bucks 106, Grizzlies 104
MILWAUKEE -- Keith Van Horn tied his season high with 30 points in his first start for Milwaukee. Van Horn came off the bench in his first four games after being acquired from New York on Feb. 15, but with Joe Smith out with an injured left ankle he got his first start. Desmond Mason was fouled with seven-tenths of a second remaining and made one of two free throws for the final margin.
Rockets 89, Trail Blazers 85
HOUSTON -- Steve Francis had 21 points and a season-high five steals to lead the Rockets, snapping the Trail Blazers' five-game winning streak. Francis fed Maurice Taylor in the lane for a basket with 1:49 to play, then hit a jumper with 1:03 to go for an 89-81 lead. Cuttino Mobley added 16 points and Yao Ming had 13.
-- Associated Press