nba roundup Tuesday’s games

Jazz 77, Hornets 66

NEW ORLEANS — Mehmet Okur had 22 points and 17 rebounds to help the Jazz snap the Hornets’ 11-game home winning streak. Deron Williams had 16 assists and outplayed Chris Paul as the Jazz took a 20-point lead early in the fourth quarter and cruised from there, holding New Orleans to its lowest point total of the season. Peja Stojakovic scored 15 points for New Orleans, which shot a woeful 3-of-14 on 3-pointers and 37 percent overall as its five-game winning streak came to an end. David West had 14 points. Paul had a rare off night, finishing with nine assists and only four points on 2-of-11 shooting.

Heat 95, Bulls 88

MIAMI — Kasib Powell scored a career-high 18 points, leading Miami to a victory that snapped a seven-game losing streak. Ricky Davis and Chris Quinn each added 16 points as five players scored in double figures for the Heat, the day after coach Pat Riley was elected to the Hall of Fame. It was Powell’s first game back with the Heat after getting recalled from the NBA Development League and signing a contract for the remainder of the season. Powell was the MVP of the D-League.

Bobcats 121, Timberwolves 119

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Jason Richardson scored 36 points and the Charlotte Bobcats avoided a collapse against one of the league’s worst teams. The Bobcats coughed up an 18-point, first-half lead and gave the lowly Timberwolves a chance to tie the game. But Al Jefferson, who matched a career high with 40 points, missed an open 19-foot jumper at the buzzer. Matt Carroll added 22 points while filling in for the injured Gerald Wallace.

Pacers 112, Hawks 98

INDIANAPOLIS — Mike Dunleavy scored 28 points, and the Pacers avoided elimination from the Eastern Conference playoff race. A win by the Hawks would have knocked the Pacers from playoff contention, and Atlanta would have needed just one win or a New Jersey loss the rest of the way to clinch a berth. Instead, the Pacers are just two games behind the Hawks for the eighth spot with four games left. The Pacers also claimed the tiebreaker against the Hawks by winning two of the three matchups this season. Flip Murray had 20 points and 10 rebounds, Danny Granger scored 16 points and Marquis Daniels added 15 for Indiana. The Pacers, one of the hottest teams in the East, have won three straight and nine of 12.

Suns 127, Grizzlies 113

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Amare Stoudemire had 28 points and 11 rebounds, and the Phoenix Suns beat the Grizzlies despite playing without an injured Shaquille O’Neal. Stoudemire shot 10-of-13 from the field as the Suns won their eighth straight over the Grizzlies and moved a half-game behind the idle Houston Rockets for the fifth spot in the Western Conference playoffs.

Knicks 98, Pistons 94

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Wilson Chandler scored all of his 19 points in the first half, and the Knicks built a huge lead and beat the Pistons in a game that didn’t mean much for either team. With a week left in the regular season, the lottery-bound Knicks have as many wins (22) as the Eastern Conference’s second-seeded team has losses.

Mavericks 99, SuperSonics 83

DALLAS — Jason Terry scored 22 points, Josh Howard added 17, and the Dallas Mavericks crept closer to a playoff berth.

Celtics 107, Bucks 104 OT

MILWAUKEE — Eddie House hit a 3-pointer with 1:29 left in overtime and the Celtics held the Bucks scoreless the rest of the way. Boston has won seven straight.

Associated Press