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CRAWFORD 22 vs. Heat |
NBA roundup
The New York Knicks happily exploited another fourth-quarter collapse by the Heat, who sent Pat Riley to a new low last night in Miami.
Jamal Crawford scored 22 points and Nate Robinson added 19, including a banked jumper with 2:20 left that put New York ahead to stay, and the Knicks beat Miami, 88-84, sending the Heat to their 13th straight loss, the longest in the league and the worst skein of Riley's career.
Miami led by 10 late in the third quarter and took a 4-point lead into the fourth, but lost yet again to match the second-longest skid in team history.
Only the expansion Heat - who lost their first 17 games of the 1988-89 season - have dropped more in a row than this team, which has free-fallen since winning an NBA championship a mere 19 months ago.
"Maybe we should hang some more pictures of that trophy somewhere, so we can remember what it felt like to be in that moment," Riley said. "We have to change the energy, somehow."
Dwyane Wade led Miami with 22 points on 7-for-23 shooting and nine assists. Udonis Haslem scored 11 points and Mark Blount and Shaquille O'Neal each scored 10 for the Heat.
Bulls 97, Pistons 81 - Ben Gordon scored 33 points and host Chicago stayed perfect this season against Detroit, using a strong fourth-quarter defensive effort to beat the Pistons.
The Bulls outscored the Pistons, 26-14, in the final period, improving to 3-0 this season against the team that eliminated them in the Eastern Conference semifinals last spring.
Andres Nocioni added 21 points in place of the injured Luol Deng, who was out with a sore Achilles'. Chauncey Billups led the Pistons with 27 points, but Detroit shot only 5 of 18 in the last quarter.
Magic 101, Trail Blazers 94 - Hedo Turkoglu scored 20 points, Rashard Lewis added 16, and host Orlando held off a late surge to beat Portland.
Dwight Howard posted his league-leading 37th double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds for Orlando.
The Magic, who blew a 19-point third-quarter lead at Charlotte in their last game, led by 21 in the middle of the second quarter, but saw the advantage dwindle to just 4 with less than a minute to go in the third period before scoring 8 straight points.
Rockets 83, Spurs 81 - Yao Ming had 21 points and 14 rebounds, and host Houston beat San Antonio, handing the defending champions their fourth loss in six games.
Rafer Alston added 16 points and six assists as the Rockets beat their in-state rivals for only the fourth time in the last 13 meetings. Tracy McGrady, who returned after missing 11 games with a sore left knee, had 9 points on 4-of-12 shooting.
Nuggets 111, Timberwolves 108 - Allen Iverson scored 35 points, including a fadeaway jumper and two free throws in the final 30 seconds, and Carmelo Anthony added 26 as host Denver handed Minnesota its 16th straight road loss.
Mavericks 111, Sonics 96 - Dirk Nowitzki scored 20 points and Devin Harris added 17 as host Dallas handed reeling Seattle its 10th straight loss.
Seattle's 10 losses in a row matches the single-season franchise record. The Sonics (9-31) last dropped 10 in a row Dec. 12-29, 1968. The longest losing streak in Seattle history is 13 games. The Sonics lost five in a row to end the 2006-2007 season, then dropped eight more to start this season.
Bobcats 105, Grizzlies 87 - Jason Richardson scored a season-high 38 points and had 14 rebounds and host Charlotte was able to hold off Memphis for its first win over the Grizzlies in franchise history.
76ers 99, Raptors 95 - Willie Green tied a season high with 23 points and host Philadelphia survived a late rally to beat Toronto.
Kings 110, Pacers 104 - Ron Artest scored 15 points against his former team, and visiting Sacramento beat Indiana.
Warriors 119, Bucks 99 - Al Harrington scored 27 points, Andris Biedrins added 20, and visiting Golden State beat Milwaukee for its fifth win in six games.
Clippers 120, Nets 107 - Corey Maggette scored 31 points and rookie Al Thornton added 15 of his 22 in the fourth quarter and overtime, leading host Los Angeles over New Jersey.
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