The AP reports: Allen Iverson had 26 points and seven assists, while Carmelo Anthony finished with 23 points and nine rebounds as the Nuggets used a big second half to defeat the Memphis Grizzlies 120-106 on Monday night. “We wanted to end this road trip the right way,” said Marcus Camby, who had 15 rebounds… J.R. Smith led the Nuggets, scoring 25 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter, as Denver stretched the lead to as many as 22 in winning its third straight. Smith was 8-of-10 in the period, including seven outside the arc. “Amazing,” said Kenyon Martin, who missed only one of his eight shots while recording 14 points and 10 rebounds… Rudy Gay led Memphis with 30 points, while Hakim Warrick finished with a season-high 29. Mike Miller added 19 and Javaris Crittenton 14.
Day: March 25, 2008
Mar. 24: Sixers 95, Celtics 90
The AP reports: Andre Iguodala scored 10 straight points during a 19-0 run that brought Philadelphia back from a double-digit, fourth-quarter deficit Monday night, and the 76ers beat the Boston Celtics 95-90 to move above .500 for the first time this season. “It shows how hard we’ve worked to get back,” said Iguodala, who finished with 28 points… Andre Miller scored 20, Thaddeus Young had 16 points and nine rebounds, and Samuel Dalembert grabbed 12 boards for Philadelphia. Kevin Garnett scored 18, Leon Powe had 16 and Ray Allen scored 14 for Boston, which lost its second straight after winning 14 out of 15. The Celtics long ago clinched a playoff berth, and they played as if it didn’t matter down the stretch.
Mar. 24: Lakers 135, Warriors 127
The AP reports: Kobe Bryant scored 23 of his 30 points after halftime while playing with a gash under his left eye, and Lamar Odom had 23 points and 21 rebounds as the Lakers reclaimed the Western Conference’s top spot and avenged Sunday night’s 115-111 defeat… Los Angeles couldn’t have done it without Sasha Vujacic, who scored 19 points and hit a 3-pointer with 43 seconds left in overtime… “It’s unfortunate, in a situation like that, that we didn’t get an opportunity to get a shot up,” said Baron Davis, who had 30 points, nine rebounds and seven assists… Monta Ellis had 18 points, nine rebounds and nine assists for the Warriors, who have lost four of seven in a critical stretch for their playoff hopes. Stephen Jackson added 29 points, but Golden State’s lead over Denver for the conference’s final playoff berth dwindled to a half-game.
Mar. 24: Pistons 110, Suns 105
The AP reports: With Richard Hamilton sidelined with a sore hip, rookies Rodney Stuckey and Arron Afflalo stepped up to help the Pistons end Phoenix’s seven-game winning streak with a 110-105 overtime victory Monday night… Phoenix was unhappy with the officiating all night—Amare Stoudemire picked up a technical in the first quarter—but it was especially disappointed in some late calls… Rasheed Wallace had 23 points and nine rebounds for Detroit, while Stoudemire led Phoenix with 33… InsideHoops.com Stat Notes: Steve Nash had 23 points and 9 assists, Grant Hill had 15 points and 9 rebounds, and Shaquille O’Neal had 12 points and 10 rebounds. For the Pistons, Chauncey Billups had 32 points and 6 assists, and Rodney Stuckey took 12 shots for 13 points.
Mar. 24: Nets 106, Knicks 91
The AP reports: The New Jersey Nets avoided what could’ve been a humiliating sweep, and managed to stay in the Eastern Conference playoff race for one more day. Vince Carter scored 27 points, Richard Jefferson added 26 and the Nets moved within one game of the final playoff spot in the conference with a 106-91 victory over the New York Knicks on Monday night. The Nets also defeated their cross-Hudson rivals for the first time this season after three losses… Jamal Crawford led the Knicks with 26 points, while Zach Randolph had 17 in his return to New York’s starting lineup. Lee finished with 12 points and a game-high 13 rebounds, while Wilson Chandler added 12 points for the Knicks.
Mar. 24: Heat 78, Bucks 73
The AP reports: Chris Quinn stepped into the starting lineup and gave the Miami Heat a huge boost. The second-year guard from Notre Dame, a late replacement for the injured Jason Williams, scored a career-high 24 points to lead the Heat past the Milwaukee Bucks 78-73 on Monday night… Quinn shot 8-of-13 and added four rebounds, four assists and four steals… Michael Redd, who scored 24 points to lead the Bucks, had his shot blocked by Joel Anthony on the ensuing possession.