Artest leads Pacers past San Antonio; Mavs stop Pistons

Philadelphia, Atlanta and Miami also won preseason games.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
INDIANAPOLIS -- Ron Artest had 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Indiana Pacers over the San Antonio Spurs 94-81 in a preseason game Tuesday night.
Three other Pacers also finished in double figures. Rookie Danny Granger had 19 points and 15 rebounds off the bench. Reserve Jonathan Bender had 17 points in just 13 minutes of the first half, and Jamaal Tinsley contributed 11 points and 6 assists.
Both teams played without one of their top stars. Tim Duncan was given the night off by Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal did not dress because of a bruised right thigh.
San Antonio opened a nine-point edge in the first period, but Indiana managed to lead 39-37 at halftime. The game was tied seven times and the teams exchanged the lead four times in the first half.
Tony Parker had 11 points and was the only player in double figures for San Antonio, winless after five preseason games.
The Spurs opened a 52-45 advantage early in the third quarter and the Pacers pulled away with a 21-4 run.
With the score tied at 56, Artest came up with a steal and made two free throws to put Indiana ahead to stay with 3:28 left in the third period. That started a 10-point Indiana run which included two free throws by Granger and four points by Tinsley.
The Spurs played much of the game without several players expected to have significant roles as the team goes for a third straight NBA championship. Robert Horry fouled out in less than 18 minutes, Parker played less than 16 minutes and Manu Ginobili was in for about 17 minutes.
The Pacers won despite shooting under 40 percent from the field.
Mavericks 94, Pistons 88
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Devin Harris scored 20 points to help Dallas beat Detroit.
Harris had 13 in the fourth quarter, including nine during a 13-1 surge that put the Mavericks up 79-68 with 7:42 to go.
Jason Terry added 15 points and Josh Howard had 14 for the Mavericks.
Rasheed Wallace had 12 points, Tayshaun Prince and Chauncey Billups each scored 11 for the Pistons.
76ers 114, Knicks 99
NEW YORK -- John Salmons helped Philadelphia overcome the absence of Allen Iverson and Chris Webber by scoring 30 points.
Nate Robinson led the Knicks with 16 points and Eddy Curry added 15.
Andre Iguodala had 15 points for Philadelphia, two of them coming on a spectacular windmill dunk after a steal in the opening quarter. Kevin Ollie also scored 15 for the Sixers.
Iverson is day-to-day with a sore right knee. Webber and center Samuel Dalembert were both out with strained leg muscles.
Hawks 97, Hornets 94
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Al Harrington scored 23 points and Joe Johnson added 15 in his return to Arkansas to lead Atlanta over New Orleans.
Johnson, who played college basketball at Arkansas, received a warm ovation before the game. He delighted the crowd with a fast-break dunk in fourth quarter after taking a nifty between-the-legs bounce pass from Harrington.
Josh Childress had 20 points for Atlanta.
J.R. Smith led New Orleans with 26 points, going 6-of-9 from 3-point range. Rookie Chris Paul had eight assists for the Hornets.
Heat 95, Magic 91
MIAMI -- Dwyane Wade scored 15 points as Miami beat Orlando.
Antoine Walker, Gary Payton and Dorell Wright each had 14 points for the Heat, who were playing without Shaquille O'Neal (strained left calf). Payton also had a game-high eight assists in 26 minutes, and Udonis Haslem had 10 rebounds in 26 minutes.
Keyon Dooling scored 19 points and Grant Hill 17 to lead the Magic. Dwight Howard added 16 points and 11 rebounds for Orlando, which was missing Steve Francis (sprained right ankle).
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