Nelson clinches a win for Magic at free-throw line
ORLANDO, Fla. - Jameer Nelson made four free throws in the final 28 seconds and scored a season-high 29 points in the Orlando Magic's 91-86 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers last night.
Dwight Howard had 14 points and 14 rebounds for the Magic, who gave up only two field goals to the Clippers in the last five minutes. Hedo Turkoglu and Trevor Ariza scored 14 points apiece for Orlando.
Corey Maggette led Los Angeles with 20 points, but the Clippers struggled to score in the second half. Elton Brand had 15 points and Tim Thomas finished with 13, but each scored only two points in the second half.
Turkoglu hit three straight long-range jumpers, including a three-pointer, to start the Magic on a 13-6 run in the middle of the fourth quarter. Nelson finished the run with a fastbreak layup that made it 84-75 with 4 minutes, 15 seconds left.
Cavaliers 82, Spurs 78
CLEVELAND - LeBron James scored 19 points, Larry Hughes added 18, and Cleveland's defense smothered and frustrated San Antonio to win.
Damon Jones made two three-pointers and four free throws in the final 1:35 as the Cavs, who have struggled on the road, improved to 14-3 at home and beat the Spurs for the second time this season.
Warriors 97, Hornets 89
OKLAHOMA CITY - Baron Davis and Matt Barnes scored 29 points apiece, leading Golden State to a victory over New Orleans.
Davis and Barnes each had big shots down the stretch for the Warriors, who won despite shooting just 39.5 percent from the field. A jumper by Davis from the left side made the lead 91-85 with 1:23 remaining, and after a Hornets miss, Barnes took a pass from Davis in the right corner and sank a three-pointer for a 94-85 lead.
Barnes added 11 rebounds and five steals.
Rasual Butler scored 30 points for the Hornets. Jannero Pargo had 24 points and Tyson Chandler grabbed 15 rebounds.
Suns 97, Bulls 96
CHICAGO - Leandro Barbosa hit a three-pointer with 1.5 seconds remaining and Phoenix rallied for the victory over Chicago.
It was a bitter ending for the Bulls, who got a career-high 41 points from Ben Gordon and led by as many as 16 in the first half.
Mavericks 112, Sonics 88
DALLAS - Dirk Nowitzki had 31 points and a season-high 15 rebounds, Josh Howard added 21 points and nine boards, and Dallas extended its winning streak to 11 games by beating Seattle.
Nowitzki was back in the lineup after sitting out the previous game due to a sinus infection.
Kings 112, Knicks 100
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Rod Artest scored 39 points to lead Sacramento over New York.
Arenas plans birthday bash. Washington Wizards point guard Gilbert Arenas is planning the birthday party of the year for Friday, the day before he turns 25.
"It's something he's been planning for the last three months," teammate Caron Butler said. "He's got every singer, artist - everybody's coming."
There's a Web site - www.arenasexpress.com - dedicated to the party, a black-tie, red-carpet, nightclub affair featuring Sean "Diddy" Combs, Busta Rhymes, the Game, Lil' Wayne and T.I. King. The "Arenas Express Card" - Arenas' own spinoff of an American Express card - is required for admission.
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