The AP reports: Chauncey Billups can’t fathom having a game like Nene did Sunday night. Nene tied a career high with 28 points and sank every one of his dazzling dozen shots in Denver’s 117-97 rout of the Utah Jazz… J.R. Smith scored 13 of his 22 points in the first quarter, setting the tone for Denver’s rare rout of Utah, which fell 4 1/2 games behind the first-place Nuggets in the Northwest Division with its third straight loss and second in 24 hours… Chauncey Billups added 22 points and Linas Kleiza came up with 18 off the bench for the Nuggets, who had lost 10 of their previous 13 against Utah.
Jefferson scores 39 as T-Wolves beat Bulls in OT
The AP reports: Al Jefferson scored a season-high 39 points and carried the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 109-108 overtime victory over the Bulls on Sunday night for their ninth win in 11 games… Rookie Kevin Love added 19 points and a tied a career high with 15 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who completed their biggest comeback of the season… Joakim Noah—who bounced back from his scoreless performance against Toronto to score 14 points and had a career-high seven blocked shots—had the unfortunate task of guarding Jefferson for most of the night… Ben Gordon led six Chicago players in double figures with 23 points. Luol Deng had 22 points for Chicago, while Rose added 18 and Andres Nocioni 15.
Granger’s 27 points leads Pacers past Bobcats
The AP reports: Close finishes are becoming the norm for the Indiana Pacers. Danny Granger had 27 points, including eight in the fourth quarter, and the Pacers held off a late rally by the Charlotte Bobcats for a 98-93 victory Sunday night… T.J. Ford and Dunleavy each scored 13, and Troy Murphy added 11 points and 14 rebounds for the Pacers, who won a season-high fifth consecutive home game. Raja Bell and Boris Diaw had 18 points apiece, and Emeka Okafor finished with 14 points and eight rebounds for Charlotte (18-26). The Bobcats had won five of six.
Yao-less Rockets beat slumping Pistons 108-105
The AP reports: The Houston Rockets figured out a way to win without Yao Ming. The Detroit Pistons only wish they could do the same with Allen Iverson and Richard Hamilton. Ron Artest scored three of his 24 points at the line in the final 14 seconds, helping the Houston hold off Detroit for a 108-105 win Sunday night… Allen Iverson, who had 17 points and eight assists, acknowledged he’s frustrated… Tracy McGrady scored 15, Shane Battier and Rafer Alston both added 14, and Von Wafer scored 10… Richard Hamilton scored 27, Wallace had 22 points and Rodney Stuckey had 14 points and eight assists.
Bosh scores 31 points as Raptors beat Kings
The AP reports: Chris Bosh scored 31 points, Andrea Bargnani added 24 and the Toronto Raptors beat Sacramento 113-97 on Sunday, handing the Kings their fifth straight loss… Jose Calderon had 16 points and eight assists as Toronto won its second straight following a season-high seven-game losing streak. Jermaine O’Neal had 11 points and 10 rebounds and Anthony Parker scored 11 points for the Raptors. John Salmons scored 21 points for the Kings, who are 0-18 against Eastern Conference opponents this season and have not beaten an East team since a 106-100 home win over Toronto on March 16, 2008. Francisco Garcia added 18 points and Brad Miller had 15 for Sacramento, which has lost 15 of its past 16 road games and is 3-20 overall away from home.
Stoudemire scores 23 as Suns edge Hawks
The AP reports: Amare Stoudemire scored 23 points, and Shaquille O’Neal had 19 points with 11 rebounds, helping Phoenix snap a three-game losing streak with a 104-99 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday night. Nash, who finished with 14 points and 13 assists, was pleased that owner Robert Sarver flew to Atlanta for Saturday’s practice and joined general manager Steve Kerr in a team meeting… Reserve guard Leandro Barbosa had 20 points for the Suns, who had lost five of six and were coming off a season-worst 22-point loss at Charlotte… Marvin Williams’ 17 points were a team high for Atlanta, which had won four of five. The Hawks’ backcourt of Mike Bibby and Johnson went a combined 7-for-33 from the field, including a 2-for-13 performance beyond the arc.
Lakers breeze to 99-85 victory over Spurs
The AP reports: Kobe Bryant scored 22 points before sitting out the fourth quarter, Pau Gasol added 16 points, five rebounds and four assists, and the Lakers beat the San Antonio Spurs 99-85 in a matchup of the Western Conference’s best teams that turned out to be a mismatch… Backup point guard Jordan Farmar returned after missing 18 games because of an injured left knee, and scored 14 points. Luke Walton played in his third game after missing nine with an injured foot, and Lamar Odom (knee) and Sasha Vujacic (back spasms) were also sidelined for brief periods… Tony Parker had 19 points and six assists and Tim Duncan added 15 points and eight rebounds for the Spurs (29-14), who lost for just the fourth time in 18 games. Neither played in the fourth quarter.
Celtics blow out Mavericks 124-100
The AP reports: Paul Pierce reached over and gave Kevin Garnett a hearty slap on the back as they laughed off the suggestion that now, with virtually everything going right, would be a good time to buy a lottery ticket. “I’ve got a lottery ticket already,” Pierce said after watching Garnett score 23 points and help shut down Dirk Nowitzki to lead Boston to its eighth straight win, 124-100 over the Dallas Mavericks… Reserve Eddie House also scored 23—including seven 3-pointers—and Ray Allen scored 20 of his 23 points in the first half as the Celtics opened a 27-point lead and coasted to their sixth straight double-digit victory… Jason Terry scored 27 for the Mavericks, who have won just three of their last nine games. Nowitzki had 18, but the Dallas 7-footer shot 4-for-17 from the field and had the ignominy of having his shot blocked by the 6-foot-1 House in the second quarter… Rajon Rondo had 13 points and 14 assists for the Celtics.
Former Eddy Curry girlfriend found murdered
The New York Daily News reports: Knicks center Eddy Curry’s 3-year-old son witnessed his mother and baby-sister’s murders in their Chicago apartment Saturday, according to a source close to Curry. Nova Henry, 24, a former girlfriend of Curry’s, and her 9-month-old daughter, Ava, were found shot dead by Henry’s mother around 6 p.m. Saturday, authorities said. Curry’s son was found unharmed inside the South Side apartment, but his father was still described as “despondent” Saturday night. The killer is a “known acquaintance,” said Chicago Police Officer Amina Greer.
The AP reports: Police believe the killings near the city’s South Side were the result of a domestic dispute, Bond said. She would not elaborate. Rob Bryant, who said he was Nova Henry’s uncle, told the Chicago Sun-Times that Henry had a restraining order against her boyfriend.
76ers hope Elton Brand fits in
NBA.com (John Schuhmann) reports: With Andre Iguodala’s numbers and the standings as Exhibits A and B, the Sixers have been better without their high-priced power forward than they’ve been with him. Saturday was Elton Brand’s first game action since dislocating his shoulder 5 1/2 weeks ago. Before he went down, the Sixers were 11-14 and fired head coach Maurice Cheeks just 23 games into the season. While Brand was injured, the Sixers were 10-7 and a much better offensive team. The simple conclusion is that Brand’s post game is not a good match for his teammates who play more aggressive when there’s not a big man taking up space in the paint. And 42 games into the season, it’s hard to argue otherwise. The Sixers led 34-22 when Brand entered the game Saturday, having connected on 15 of their first 23 field goal attempts. Now, they weren’t going to keep up that pace whether Brand played or not, but their offense did get noticeably stagnant with Brand on the floor. There was less penetration and less ball movement. Defense was even more of an issue, but that could be chalked up to the Knicks just getting hot from downtown.
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