TORONTO 101, INDIANA 88
TORONTO It took four tries, but Jay Triano finally got his first win as an NBA head coach.
Jason Kapono scored a season-high 25 points and Chris Bosh added 21 and 10 boards as the Toronto Raptors snapped a five-game skid with a 101-88 triumph over the Indiana Pacers.
Triano took over at the helm last week for the fired Sam Mitchell, but the Raptors stumbled to three more losses as their offensive struggles continued. But they improved in all facets in this one, utilizing a balanced scoring effort and a stifling defense that held the Pacers to just 35 percent (33-of-95) shooting.
Kapono got his first started of the year in place of regular starter Anthony Parker, who was out with a sprained ankle. He took full advantage of the opportunity, burying 11-of-16 shots, including three 3-pointers. Bosh got back on track after a nine-point showing in Tuesdays loss to Cleveland and Jose Calderon dished out 14 assists.
Toronto had gone eight straight games without reaching the 100-point mark but snapped that streak as well.
Raptors center Jermaine ONeal – who spent the last eight seasons with the Pacers before being dealt this offseason – collected 10 points, nine rebounds and three blocks.
The Pacers, who have now lost four in a row following an upset victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, were led by Troy Murphys 20-point, 20-rebound effort.
DENVER 116, MINNESOTA 105
DENVER Carmelo Anthony tied an NBA record for points in a quarter to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 116-105 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Anthony scored 33 of his 45 points in the third quarter to set a new franchise mark and tie George Gervin for the NBA record. David Thompson previously held the Nuggets record with 32 points.
Anthony had nine points at the half and Denver trailed 56-44 before taking control with a 40-point third quarter. Anthony was 12-of-15 from the field in the third, scoring on drives and 3-pointers while adding five rebounds.
Randy Foye and Al Jefferson each scored 26 points for Minnesota, which has lost seven straight and failed in its second chance to give Kevin McHale his first win since taking over as coach.
LA LAKERS 115, PHOENIX 110
LOS ANGELES Pau Gasol scored 28 points, pacing the Los Angeles Lakers to a 115-110 victory against the Phoenix Suns.
Kobe Bryant had 18 points and seven rebounds, but was just 6-of-16 from the floor. Andrew Bynum added 17 points and 11 rebounds, helping the Lakers bounce back from a 113-101 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday.
Matt Barnes scored 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while Amare Stoudemire contributed 18 and 11 boards for the Suns, who dressed just eight players after trading Boris Diaw, Raja Bell and Sean Singletary to the Charlotte Bobcats earlier on Wednesday.
Phoenix was also without Shaquille ONeal, who was attending services for his great-grandmother, who recently passed away.
Despite the short bench, Leandro Barbosas layup with 7:17 remaining in the fourth quarter narrowed the Suns deficit to 91-90. The Lakers went on a 9-2 run over the next 3:19 to seal the win. Bynum capped the surge with an alley-oop dunk, giving Los Angeles an insurmountable 100-92 advantage.
NEW YORK 121, NEW JERSEY 109
EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey Al Harrington had 39 points and 12 rebounds and Tim Thomas added 26 points as the New York Knicks earned a rare road win, 121-109, over the New Jersey Nets on Wednesday.
Wilson Chandler added 24 points and nine rebounds for the Knicks, who rebounded from a hard-fought road loss against the Chicago Bulls.
A pair of New Jersey natives, Harrington and Thomas, had impressive homecomings, combining to shoot 19-of-33 from the field and 20-of-22 from the line.
David Lee had 10 points and one rebound before leaving with a bruised back in the third quarter for New York, which trailed by six at halftime but used a second-half onslaught to improve to just 3-8 away from home this season.
Devin Harris scored 32 points for the Nets.
CLEVELAND 101, PHILADELPHIA 93
PHILADELPHIA It wasnt perfect, but it still was a 10 for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
LeBron James scored 29 points and the Cavaliers rolled to their 10th straight win, a 101-93 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Cleveland improved to 19-3 with the win, which it essentially wrapped up by outscoring Philadelphia, 36-19, in the third quarter.
The Cavs led 48-46 at the half and took control with an 18-3 run in the third. Delonte West, Mo Williams and James each hit a 3-pointer in the surge.
Andre Iguodala scored 27 points for Philadelphia, which has lost three of its last four.
NEW ORLEANS 105, CHARLOTTE 89
NEW ORLEANS The New Orleans Hornets avenged one of their most confounding losses of the season, effortlessly cruising to a 105-89 rout of the Charlotte Bobcats.
The Bobcats dealt the Hornets a 92-89 loss just over a month ago, as Jason Richardson and Raymond Felton scored 20 points apiece to spoil Hornets superstar Chris Pauls homecoming to the state where he grew up.
But without Richardson – who was traded to the Phoenix Suns earlier in the day in a five-player deal that brought over Raja Bell and Boris Diaw – the Bobcats didnt have the offensive firepower to hang with the Hornets this time around. Paul had a perfect shooting night, going 5-of-5 from the field and 4-of-4 from the line to finish with 15 points and 15 assists in just 30 minutes.
David West and Peja Stojakovic led the way with 17 points apiece, while Morris Peterson came off the bench to chip in 16.
Rookie point guard D.J. Augustin carried the Bobcats, posting a career-high 28 points on 9-of-15 shooting.
SAN ANTONIO 95, ATLANTA 89
SAN ANTONIO Manu Ginobili scored 27 points off the bench to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 95-89 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.
Tim Duncan had 19 points and 11 rebounds and Michael Finley added 15 points for San Antonio, which held a 52-27 rebounding advantage.
Ginobili knocked down five of the Spurs 10 3-pointers as the home team sank 50 percent of its attempts from behind the arc.
Joe Johnson led the Hawks with 29 points while Ronald Murray added 17 off the bench.
GOLDEN STATE 119, MILWAUKEE 96
OAKLAND, California Marco Belinelli ignited a fourth-quarter surge that enabled the Golden State Warriors to bust open a tight game and go on to a 119-96 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.
Belinelli scored 11 of his 15 points in the final 12 minutes, including a spectacular, over-the-backboard shot as he fell out of bounds.
The surge let the Warriors move from a one-point lead to a rout.Golden State outscored Milwaukee, 37-15, in the final quarter.
Stephen Jackson led the way with 21 points as Golden State put seven players in double figures.
Milwaukee was led by Michael Redd with 27 points, but only two in the final quarter.
MEMPHIS 108, OKLAHOMA CITY 102
OKLAHOMA CITY After a severe drought, there was a Thunder storm. And just as fast, like a deluge, it was gone – and so was victory.
The Memphis Grizzlies overcame a 21-point deficit in the second quarter to deal the Oklahoma City Thunder a crushing 108-102 defeat.
Leading, 31-25, the Thunder went on a 20-5 burst to take a 51-30 lead. The Grizzlies came to and closed the half with an 18-4 run to make it a game.
The teams played an even third quarter, each scoring 28 points, before the Grizzlies surged to victory with a 32-19 advantage in the final 12 minutes to drop the Thunder to 2-21.
Rudy Gay scored 22 points to lead Memphis. Mike Conley Jr. scored 14 of his 16 points in the final quarter. O.J. Mayo netted 18 points despite playing only one minute in the fourth.
Kevin Durant scored 28 points as the Thunder fell despite putting six players in double figures.
