Mavericks end slump, rally past Celtics (AP)Dirk Nowitzki came through with a strong fourth-quarter finish to help the Dallas Mavericks end a rare slump. Nowitzki scored 30 points, 19 in the final quarter, and Josh Howard matched a career high with 30 points as the Mavericks bounced back from consecutive defeats, rallying from a 10-point halftime deficit to beat the Boston Celtics 106-101 on Friday night.
No defense for LakersDENVER – Injuries and poor defensive efforts have the Lakers floundering as the playoffs near.
Heat win ninth straight, defeat Kings (AP)Besides rookie Chris Quinn, there’s only one man in the Miami Heat locker room without a championship ring. And Eddie Jones is playing like he desperately wants one. He hit his first five 3-point attempts to stake Miami to a big early lead, and the defending NBA champion Heat extended the NBA’s longest current winning streak to nine games with a 103-97 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Friday…
McGrady, Alston lift Rockets by Raptors (AP)Tracy McGrady and Rafer Alston made life rough on their old team Friday night. Yao Ming made things even rougher. McGrady scored 24 points, Alston had 23 points and fell just short of a triple-double, and Yao added 23 points and 12 rebounds in the Houston Rockets’ 114-100 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night.
Kobe scores 65, Lakers end skid at seven (AP)Kobe Bryant had enough after seven straight losses by the Los Angeles Lakers. He took matters into his own hands against the Portland Trail Blazers and left the court with the fourth highest-scoring game in franchise history. Bryant scored 24 of his 65 points in the fourth quarter and added nine more in overtime, powering the Lakers to a 116-111 victory on Friday night.
Fans shower Boozer with boos in return (AP)Carlos Boozer smiled easily before his first game back in Cleveland. He was ready for whatever Cavaliers fans had to dish out. “With every 10 fans that miss me there are probably 10 or more that wish they could shoot me,” he said. Boozer played at Cleveland on Saturday night for the first time since he bolted nearly three years ago for more money in Utah.
Hornets halt six-game slide, beat Knicks (AP)Steve Francis went for another game-winner. When that missed, the New Orleans Hornets finally had a victory in March. David West made the go-ahead jumper with 55 seconds remaining, and the Hornets snapped a six-game losing streak with a 92-90 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday night. The Hornets trailed by 18 points and never led by more than two, but got a much-needed victory in their quest…
Wizards F Caron Butler to miss 7-10 days (AP)Washington Wizards forward Caron Butler will miss a week to 10 days with a left knee injury and won’t travel with the team on its March 20-26 road trip. Jarvis Hayes probably will start in Butler’s place, coach Eddie Jordan said after practice Friday. Butler hurt the knee March 7, but continued to play.
