Heat 97, Magic 96
LeBron James scored 26 points, including a go-ahead layup with 3.2 seconds left, and the host Miami Heat scrambled late to beat the Orlando Magic by a point on Wednesday night and extend their franchise-record winning streak to 16 games.
Dwyane Wade scored 24 points and Chris Bosh added 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Heat, who blew a 20-point, second-half lead and then rallied from a five-point deficit in the final minutes.
Nic Vucevic had 25 points and 21 rebounds for the Magic, who got 16 points apiece from Jameer Nelson and Tobias Harris, 13 from Arron Afflalo and 12 from Maurice Harkless.
James drove diagonally through the lane for the go-ahead shot, getting to the left side of the glass for the layup that saved Miami — and its streak.
Vucevic now has two games of 20 rebounds or more in his career — both this season, and both against Miami.
But he was one of three Magic players to foul out in the final minutes, as Orlando let a golden chance go awry.
Celtics 83, Pacers 81
Kevin Garnett found Jeff Green all alone under the basket for a layup with 0.5 seconds remaining to finish off a fourth-quarter comeback from 14 points down as Boston beat host Indiana. Garnett led the Celtics with 18 points and 10 rebounds and dragged Boston back after they trailed most of the final three quarters. Green had 11 points off the bench. Paul George scored 16 points for the Pacers, who had all five starters in double figures.
Hawks 107, 76ers 96
Jeff Teague scored 27 points, Anthony Tolliver added a season-high 21 and host Atlanta bounced back from a sluggish start, snapping a three-game losing streak. Tolliver, averaging just 3.4 points a game, had already surpassed his previous best of 13 points by halftime. The Sixers kept leaving him open beyond the arc, and he kept knocking down 3-pointers, finishing 5 for 7 from long range. The Hawks missed their first eight shots but quickly pulled themselves together against Philadelphia, which was on its eighth game in 12 days.
Knicks 87, Pistons 77
Raymond Felton scored 26 points, and the New York Knicks pulled away in the fourth quarter to top host Detroit. New York went on a 16-0 run in the fourth to put away the game. The Knicks turned the ball over 10 times in the first quarter, but still led 44-38 at the half. Brandon Knight scored 17 points for the Pistons and led a third-quarter rally, but Detroit managed only 12 points in the fourth.
Nets 99, Bobcats 78
Deron Williams had 20 points and eight assists, Joe Johnson added 22 points, and Brooklyn got a needed win over host Charlotte. The Nets trailed by 10 at the half, but opened the third quarter with a 21-6 run led by Williams and Johnson, and never looked back. The Bobcats managed just nine points in the third quarter on 3-of-19 shooting and were outscored 56-25 in the second half to lose their eighth game in a row.
Timberwolves 87, Wizards
Ricky Rubio had 15 points, 11 assists, seven rebounds and six steals to lead host Minnesota to a victory over Washington that snapped a six-game losing streak. Derrick Williams added 16 points and seven rebounds for the Timberwolves. John Wall had 19 points and seven assists for the Wizards.
Grizzlies 91, Trail Blazers 85
Marc Gasol had 23 points and 12 rebounds and Jerryd Bayless scored all 13 of his points in the final 13 minutes for host Memphis. Memphis rallied from 17 points down in the third quarter. Mike Conley added 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field, and had six assists. Tony Allen scored 10 points, including two free throws with 4.8 seconds left.
Lakers 108, Hornets 102
Kobe Bryant scored 13 of his 42 points during a 20-0 run in the last 6:22 of the fourth quarter, helping Los Angeles overcome a 25-point deficit. The host Hornets were still ahead by 21 in the final minute of the third quarter when Greivis Vasquez’s 3-pointer made it 93-72, and even after the Lakers had whittled their deficit to 12, the Hornets were up 102-88 after Robin Lopez’s dunk with 6:47 to go. But the Hornets would not score again, and Bryant began to take over with a big assist from Jodie Meeks, who hit two of his five 3-pointers during the final surge.
Spurs 101, Bulls 83
Tim Duncan had 18 points and 10 rebounds for host San Antonio. Manu Ginobili added 18 points and nine assists for San Antonio. Patty Mills provided a needed punch off the Spurs’ bench, scoring 10 of his 13 points in the second half.
Mavericks 112, Rockets 108
Dirk Nowitzki scored 22 points and O.J. Mayo had two big fourth-quarter baskets and a career-high 12 assists for host Dallas. Mayo scored five straight points to put Dallas ahead 107-104, and the Mavericks won despite 28 points from James Harden.
Raptors 98, Suns 71
DeMar DeRozan scored 15 points and Amir Johnson added 14 to lead visiting Toronto, which snapped a five-game skid. Seldom-used Sebastian Telfair scored 13 points for the Raptors in his return to Phoenix. Markieff Morris scored 12 points and was the only player in double figures for the Suns.
