Thursday, January 26, 2006
Rockets 102, Bobcats 78
HOUSTON -- Tracy McGrady scored 29 points in three quarters as Houston snapped a seven-game home losing streak. Seldom-used Lonnie Baxter added a season-high 18 points and 11 rebounds and David Wesley added 15 for Houston, which improved to 4-13 at the Toyota Center. The Rockets hadn't won a home game since a 91-73 victory over Boston on Dec. 6. Matt Carroll had 19 for injury-depleted Charlotte, which dropped its season-high ninth straight game. The Rockets, meanwhile, rode one of their best home-court offensive performances of the season to their third win in four games. The NBA's second-lowest scoring team shot 46 percent (39 of 84) and had 26 assists, a season-high for a home game. McGrady, who averaged 39.7 points in Houston's last three games, spent much of the opening quarter muttering to himself as he missed seven of his first eight shots. He went out with 2:38 left and the Rockets mounted a 16-7 run with a lineup that included Baxter and rookies Chuck Hayes and Luther Head. McGrady returned with 7:18 left in the half and promptly sank a deep jumper to widen the Rockets' lead to 37-24.
Kings 106, Knicks 102
NEW YORK -- Mike Bibby scored eight of his 35 points in overtime and added 10 assists, and Brad Miller had 25 points and 15 rebounds to lead short-handed Sacramento. Stephon Marbury scored 22 points in his return to the lineup after missing three straight games with a sprained left shoulder for the Knicks, who lost their sixth straight game.
Pistons 106, Bucks 102, OT
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Chauncey Billups scored 11 points in overtime to help Detroit win its ninth straight game. The win gave the Pistons (35-5) the fourth-best 40-game record in league history. The Chicago Bulls (1995-96), Philadelphia 76ers (1966-67) and Los Angeles Lakers (1971-72) all started 37-3. No team has started 36-4, and the Bulls went 35-5 in both 1991-92 and 1996-97. The Pistons had to overcome a 41 points from Michael Redd, including 31 in the second half. It matched his career high.
Bulls 104, Raptors 88
TORONTO -- Chris Duhon scored 26 points and Chicago beat the Raptors for the 12th straight game. Darius Songaila had 19 points and three other players reached double figures for the Bulls, who haven't lost to Toronto since Dec. 6, 2002. Chicago has won three of four overall. Chris Bosh scored 20 points and Mike James added 19 for the Raptors, who have lost five of six.
Wizards 89, Celtics 87
BOSTON -- Gilbert Arenas hit two free throws with 1.7 seconds remaining to lift Washington. In their only other matchup this season, Arenas drew a foul with three seconds remaining and hit two free throws to give the Wizards a 103-102 victory over the Celtics on Jan. 7. Antawn Jamison scored 16 of his game-high 26 points in the fourth quarter and Brendan Haywood scored a season-high 21 for Washington, which has now won six of its last eight. Paul Pierce scored 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Celtics.
Spurs 84, Hornets 68
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Tim Duncan scored 17 points and the San Antonio Spurs handed New Orleans its worst defeat in Oklahoma City. The Hornets' sputtering offense set a season low in scoring for the second straight game and gave the standing-room only crowd of 19,289 little to cheer about. Tony Parker had 14 points for the Spurs and Nick Van Exel added 13, including a season-high four 3-pointers, as the Spurs pulled away to a 15-point first-half lead. David West and Rasual Butler each scored 15 to lead the Hornets.
Associated Press
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