NBA roundup | Friday’s games

Hornets 83, Celtics 81

BOSTON

Trevor Ariza made a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 1:34 to play and David West scored four of his 19 points in the final minute, helping the Hornets pull out a win over the injury-riddled Celtics. Chris Paul had 20 points and 11 assists for New Orleans, which won for just the third time in seven games. Emeka Okafor scored 18 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Ray Allen led Boston with 18 points, but hit the back rim a desperation 3 in the closing seconds. Paul Pierce had 12 points and seven boards. Nate Robinson scored 11 and had six rebounds. Boston has lost three of four since winning 14 straight.

Bulls 90, Nets 81

CHICAGO

Carlos Boozer scored 20 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, and the Bulls won for the 12th time in 14 games, pulling away late to beat the Nets. Luol Deng and Derrick Rose scored 19 apiece, and the Bulls made enough shots down the stretch after struggling from the field for much of the game. Brook Lopez led New Jersey with 19 points. Travis Outlaw and Stephen Graham each scored 16, but the Nets dropped their fourth straight. At least they didn’t get blown out this time. Outscored by a combined 51 points over the previous three games, the Nets hung in against the Central division leaders.

Pacers 95, Wizards 86

INDIANAPOLIS

Danny Granger and Darren Collison scored 18 points apiece and the Pacers pulled away early. Granger shot 8 of 12 from the field and scored 13 of his points in the first half in helping Indiana snap a three-game losing streak. John Wall scored 25 for the Wizards, who are 0-16 on the road this season and 8-7 at home.

Warriors 96, Bobcats 95

CHARLOTTE, N.C.

Monta Ellis scored 25 points and the Golden State Warriors held off a late rally. Stephen Curry added 24 points and Dorell Wright 17 for the Warriors, who led by as many as 11 points midway through the third quarter and held a six-point lead with 1:20 remaining. Stephen Jackson scored 22 points for the Bobcats, but missed a 3-pointer with 2 seconds remaining that could have given Charlotte its third consecutive win under interim head coach Paul Silas.

Rockets 114, Raptors 105

HOUSTON

Reserve guard Chase Budinger scored a season-high 22 points and Kevin Martin added 20 for Houston. Rookie Patrick Patterson set career highs in points (15) and rebounds (9) for the Rockets.

Associated Press