Nuggets extend Lakers’ skid to seven (AP)Not a good day or night for Phil Jackson thanks to the NBA and Linas Kleiza. Jackson got fined $50,000 for accusing the league of having a vendetta against Kobe Bryant and then lost a seventh straight game for the first time in his 16-year coaching career Thursday night when the Los Angeles Lakers fell to the Denver Nuggets 113-86.
Krystkowiak wins debut, Bucks top Spurs (AP)San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich warned the Spurs that facing a downtrodden team in its first game with a new coach can be dangerous. Then they saw it for themselves. The Milwaukee Bucks made a winner of Larry Krystkowiak in his NBA debut, ending San Antonio’s 13-game winning streak with a 101-90 victory on Thursday night.
Suns end Mavs’ home streak at 23 in 2OT (AP)When the second overtime began in a game that already had plenty of thrills, Amare Stoudemire was ready to settle things. So he went to the basket. Hard. Between points and fouls that got Dallas Mavericks starters disqualified, Stoudemire’s strong start got the Phoenix Suns going toward a 129-127 victory Wednesday night in a tense, thrilling game between the league’s two best teams.
Wizards hand Pacers 11th straight loss (AP)Jermaine O’Neal’s spirited effort on an injured knee didn’t stop the Indiana Pacers from losing their 11th straight game. O’Neal started after sitting out three games with a sprained left knee and had 24 points and seven rebounds, but Gilbert Arenas scored 28 of his 35 points in the second half as the Washington Wizards beat the Pacers 112-96 on Wednesday night.
James scores 29 in return, Cavs win easy (AP)The Memphis Grizzlies wish LeBron James’ back had bothered the Cleveland Cavaliers’ star another night. James recovered from his injury to score 29 points, leading seven Cleveland players in double figures and helping the Cavaliers beat the Grizzlies 118-96 Wednesday night for their season-high seventh straight victory.
Howard leads Magic past Jazz 101-90 (AP)Coach Brian Hill told his Orlando Magic they needed only one game to shake a losing streak and get back into the playoff picture. It happened Wednesday night, when Dwight Howard had 31 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Magic to a 101-90 victory over the Utah Jazz. The win put the Magic (30-36) back in position for the eighth seed in the dismal Eastern Conference after the New York Knicks and…
