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KOBE BRYANT Fantastic finish |
NBA roundup
Tayshaun Prince scored 24 points, Chauncey Billups added 20 points and nine assists, and the host Detroit Pistons overcame a slow start to beat the Seattle SuperSonics, 100-97, last night.
Seattle shot 82 percent in the first quarter on its way to a 41-28 lead, but that fell to 32 percent in the final three periods as the SuperSonics lost for the fifth time in six games. The Pistons have won five of six and have defeated the Sonics seven straight times.
Billups's buzzer-beating 3-pointer cut Seattle's lead to 78-77 going into the fourth, and the Pistons took control with a 13-2 run to begin the period. The Sonics, who went 0 for 12 to start the second quarter, started the fourth by missing 10 of their first 11.
Seattle pulled within 96-94 on Earl Watson's driving layup with 43 seconds left, but Amir Johnson answered with a basket at the other end.
Prince blocked Kevin Durant's shot, and Watson and Chris Wilcox both missed desperate shots before Billups clinched the game from the line.
Spurs 81, Nets 70 - Tim Duncan had 29 points and 12 rebounds, and the host San Antonio Spurs beat the Nets for their 10th straight victory.
Manu Ginobili added 12 points for the Spurs, who sit atop a competitive Western Conference, where just a handful of games separate them from the eighth-place Golden State Warriors.
Vince Carter led New Jersey with 19 points and reserve Marcus Williams scored 16. New addition Devin Harris added 13 points.
Lakers 117, Kings 105 - Kobe Bryant scored 17 of his 34 points in an electric fourth-quarter performance, and Pau Gasol added 31 points in the visiting Lakers' 12th victory in 13 games.
Bryant scored all of his fourth-quarter points in the final 5:56, including 11 straight as the Lakers took their first lead.
Warriors 135, Hawks 118 - Baron Davis scored 35 points and Stephen Jackson had 29 to lead visiting Golden State to its fourth straight victory. The Warriors, who lead the NBA in scoring, set their season high for points.
Magic 102, Raptors 87 - Hedo Turkoglu scored 24 points, Dwight Howard overcame a slow start to collect 19 points and 14 rebounds, and host Orlando beat Toronto.
Bobcats 109, Timberwolves 89 - Jason Richardson had 25 points and eight rebounds, Emeka Okafor added 19 points and 11 boards, and the Bobcats snapped a nine-game road losing streak.
Suns 97, Trail Blazers 92 - Amare Stoudemire scored 22 points and Phoenix fought off a late surge by host Portland.
Bulls 112, Grizzlies 97 - Drew Gooden and Luol Deng scored 21 points apiece, and host Chicago beat Memphis to extend the Grizzlies' losing streak to nine games.
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