NBA roundup \ Saturday’s games

Hawks 110, Pacers 98

INDIANAPOLIS — Al Horford had 25 points and a season-high 19 rebounds. Joe Johnson scored 24 points, and Josh Smith had 22 points and five blocks for the Hawks (21-8), who had dropped two of their last three games, all on the road. Troy Murphy, Tyler Hansbrough and Luther Head all finished with 19 points for Indiana. Atlanta took control quickly, opening the game on a 9-0 run and taking an 18-4 lead before Indiana made its second basket. The Pacers closed within four twice in the second quarter, but never got closer. Indiana (9-19) has lost five in a row and has permitted opponents to score at least 100 points in 14 of the last 20 games.

Mavericks 106, Grizzlies 101

DALLAS — Dirk Nowitzki scored 20 points over the first three quarters, then saw his teammates take control in the fourth. Nowitzki asked for more help from his teammates after the last game and certainly got it. Six other Mavericks scored in double-figures, with Jason Terry scoring 14 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter. He sealed the victory with four free throws in the final 20.6 seconds. Nowitzki was 0 for 2 in the final period. Erick Dampier had 13 points and 10 rebounds, Jason Kidd had 10 points and 10 assists, Josh Howard had 11 points and Shawn Marion had 10 points as the Mavericks pulled out a split of a four-game homestand, and avenged a 16-point loss in Memphis earlier this month. Zach Randolph had 27 points and 14 rebounds for the Grizzlies.

Rockets 98, Nets 93

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Reserve Carl Landry scored 26 points to send the Nets to their ninth straight loss. Luis Scola and Aaron Brooks each had 17 points, while Trevor Ariza added 13 points and 11 rebounds as the Rockets won for the fourth time in the last five games. Houston, playing without Tracy McGrady this weekend, beat New Jersey for the seventh straight time. Devin Harris led the Nets with 19 points, while Yi Jianlian and Brook Lopez each had 17.

Bulls 96, Hornets 85

CHICAGO — Tyrus Thomas returned from injury to score 21 points, Joakim Noah added 17 points and 18 rebounds, and Chicago capped an eventful week with a victory over New Orleans. Thomas, back after missing 22 games with a broken left forearm, was active from the moment he entered to a nice ovation 3:09 into the game. He finished 10 for 17 from the floor and also had nine rebounds. Kirk Hinrich replaced slumping John Salmons in the starting lineup and scored 14 points and Derrick Rose also had 14 for the Bulls, who on Monday blew a 35-point, second-half lead in losing to Sacramento. The next night, they fell to New York despite erasing most of a 22-point deficit.

Timberwolves 101, Wizards 89

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Timberwolves beat up on some old friends for their first back-to-back wins of the season. Corey Brewer scored 23 of his career-high 27 points in the second half. Kevin Love added 17 points and 10 rebounds against a Wizards team that has seven coaches and players who have significant ties to the Timberwolves organization. Gilbert Arenas had 26 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. But he made just 10 of his 28 shots for the Wizards, who were looking for their first three-game winning streak since April 2008.

Thunder 98, Bobcats 91

OKLAHOMA CITY — Kevin Durant scored 29 points, Russell Westbrook had 22 and the Thunder held off the Bobcats. Nenad Krstic added 13 points and 10 rebounds for the surprising Thunder, who improved to 15-14. They didn’t earn their 15th win last season until the 60th game, on March 2. A near-capacity crowd of 17,961 showed up at the 18,203-seat Ford Center, two nights after the biggest snowstorm (14 inches) in Oklahoma City history. Stephen Jackson had 24 points for the Bobcats, who dropped to 1-13 on the road.

Associated Press