The AP reports: Andrei Kirilenko returned from an ankle injury to spark a key fourth-quarter run and help the Utah Jazz beat the Memphis Grizzlies 117-99 Tuesday night. C.J. Miles scored 24 points and Deron Williams had 20 points and 15 assists… Despite his third straight double-double, Williams’ five-game streak of brilliant shooting came to an end. Williams was the first guard since Michael Jordan in November 1996 to score more than 30 points on better than 50 percent shooting for five consecutive games. He shot 7-of-18 against Memphis.
Big Barbosa game, Suns destroy Clippers 140-100
The AP reports: The Suns’ big win came at the expense of a Clippers squad without center Marcus Camby, out with an inner ear infection. The Clippers also played most of the game without leading scorer Zach Randolph, who was ejected in the first quarter after punching Phoenix reserve Louis Amundson. Leandro Barbosa scored 24 points and Amare Stoudemire added 23 as the Suns began their second-half push for the postseason. They’re one game behind Utah in the race for the last Western Conference playoff spot… The Suns shot 75.6 percent from the floor in the first half, with most of their buckets coming on layups and dunks. At halftime, Phoenix had more points in the paint (50) than the Clippers had total… Eric Gordon had 24 points for the Clippers.
Battier, Yao lead Rockets past Nets 114-88
The AP reports: The Houston Rockets made it look easy against the New Jersey Nets on Tuesday night. Yao Ming had 20 points and 12 rebounds and Shane Battier scored a season-high 19 points in the Rockets’ 114-88 rout. Von Wafer scored 19 points and Ron Artest added 18 for the Rockets, who outrebounded New Jersey 56-30 and set season highs in 3-point field goals (15) and assists (27) in their sixth straight win over the Nets… The Rockets improved to 13-6 without McGrady this season. Vince Carter scored 30 points and Brook Lopez added 21 for the Nets, who have lost three straight after a four-game winning streak.
Paul hits game-winner in 100-98 Hornets win over Thunder
The AP reports: Returning again to the city where his NBA career got started, Chris Paul drove the lane for a layup with 2.7 seconds left to lift the New Orleans Hornets to a 100-98 victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night… David West led the Hornets with 37 points and 13 rebounds, while Paul finished with 21 points and eight assists in the team’s first game since trading starting center Tyson Chandler to the Thunder earlier in the day for veterans Joe Smith and Chris Wilcox, plus second-round pick DeVon Hardin… Jeff Green added 24 points and Westbrook scored 12 points for Oklahoma City.
Bucks beat slumping Pistons 92-86
The AP reports: Richard Jefferson scored 29 points and Ramon Sessions added 17 and the Milwaukee Bucks beat Detroit 92-86 on Tuesday night, sending the Pistons to their 14th home loss of the season… The Bucks overcame 24 points and 14 rebounds from Antonio McDyess to pull within two games of Detroit in the Eastern Conference standings. Malik Allen added a season-high 14 points for Milwaukee, which won its third straight… Richard Hamilton had 22 points for the Pistons, who have lost four straight.
Krypto-Nate is Super as Knicks beat Spurs in OT
The AP reports: Nate Robinson continued the best stretch of his career with 32 points and 10 rebounds Tuesday night to lead the New York Knicks to a 112-107 overtime victory over the San Antonio Spurs… Chris Duhon and Wilson Chandler each scored 17 points for the Knicks, who snapped a six-game losing streak. They finally broke through against an NBA power, having dropped all three on a homestand against the Lakers, Cavaliers and Celtics in the first week of February… Tim Duncan had 26 points and 15 rebounds for the Spurs, but fellow All-Star Tony Parker shot just 5-for-20 and finished with 14 for the Spurs. Roger Mason scored 20.
Howard scores career-high 45 in Magic win over Bobcats
The AP reports: Dwight Howard had a career-high 45 points, to go with 19 rebounds and eight blocks, leading the Orlando Magic to a 107-102 overtime victory against the Charlotte Bobcats on Tuesday night… The Magic also got 17 points from Rashard Lewis, who joined Howard on the Eastern Conference All-Star team last weekend… The Bobcats, by contrast, were much more balanced early with no one in double-figure scoring, but seven players with four or more points.
Granger’s double-double leads Pacers past 76ers
The AP reports: Danny Granger had 20 points—five under his season average—but five other Pacers finished in double figures to pick up the slack in Indiana’s 100-91 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night… Troy Murphy scored 17 points, eight in the fourth quarter, Roy Hibbert and T.J. Ford each had 14, Jarrett Jack chipped in with 12 and Marquis Daniels had 11 for the Pacers, who led by as many as 20 points in the first half… Andre Iguodala had 20 points and nine assists, Louis Williams scored 17 and Thaddeus Young added 16 points and nine rebounds for Philadelphia, which had its four-game winning streak snapped.
Jamison gets 29; Wizards beat Timberwolves 111-103
The AP reports: The Wizards avoided further embarrassment by pulling away in the final minute for a 111-103 victory Tuesday night in a game that guaranteed that at least one struggling team would start the season’s homestretch on a good note. “We couldn’t have lost this game,” said Mike James, who scored eight of his 15 points in the fourth quarter and hit a pair of 3-pointers in the final 70 seconds… Antawn Jamison had 29 points and 11 rebounds, leading six players in double figures for the Wizards. Caron Butler added 17 points, six assists and five rebounds before limping off to the locker room in the final minute. Butler fell to the court clutching a rebound and banged his left hip, near the joint where he had a small labral tear that cost him 19 games last season… Randy Foye scored 23 points, Mike Miller scored 18, and Kevin Love had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who overcame the big first-half deficit but blew a six-point fourth-quarter lead.
Rockets keeping McGrady and Yao
The AP reports: Houston Rockets owner Leslie Alexander said Tuesday that oft-injured star Tracy McGrady won’t be dealt before Thursday’s trade deadline.
McGrady sat out Tuesday’s game against New Jersey as he seeks input from doctors on the best course of treatment for his troublesome left knee. He’s missed 18 games this season with the injury, the aftermath of offseason surgery. He sat out another game with a sprained ankle… Alexander also said he wants to keep All-Star center Yao Ming for his entire career. Yao’s contract is due to expire after the 2010-11 season.