The AP reports: Andre Iguodala took advantage of the absence of Al Horford to score 27 points, and Philadelphia dominated near the basket to beat the Atlanta Hawks 109-94 on Sunday. The 76ers, who have their first four-game winning streak of the season, scored 56 points in the paint and had a combined 49 points by their starting forwards. Thaddeus Young added 22 points and nine rebounds for Philadelphia. “It seems like we’re getting it together a little bit,” said 76ers guard Andre Miller, who had 19 points… Joe Johnson, who led the Hawks with 25 points, refused to blame the loss on Horford’s injury… Mike Bibby had 22 points.
Celtics top Raptors 94-88, end 4-game skid
The AP reports: Ray Allen scored a season-high 36 points, including eight 3-pointers, and the Celtics withstood a late Toronto rally to beat the Raptors 94-88 on Sunday afternoon, snapping a four-game losing streak… Allen, who made a career-high 10 3-pointers against Charlotte on April 14, 2002, went 8-for-10 from 3-point range Sunday, making his first six attempts… Rajon Rondo had 14 points and 11 assists and Kevin Garnett added 10 points and 11 rebounds. Pierce had 11 points for Boston, which had lost seven of nine coming in… Andrea Bargnani led Toronto with 17 points while Chris Bosh and Jamario Moon each had 15.
Al Horford bone bruise
Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford will miss this afternoon’s contest against the Philadelphia 76ers with a bone bruise to his right knee. He is out indefinitely and will not travel with the team on their West Coast trip (Phoenix, LA Clippers and Golden State).
Horford this season is averaging 10.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.6 blocks on 51.7% shooting in 32.9 minutes per game.
LeBron takes active scoring lead from Iverson
The Rocky Mountain News (Chris Tomasson) reports (via blog): After more than four years, Allen Iverson finally has been toppled from his throne. With the Detroit guard scoring just 11 points Saturday night at Utah, he relinquished the career active scoring average lead he had held since early in the 2004-05 season. The NBA’s active career scoring average is now Cleveland forward LeBron James, averaging 27.36 points per game. Iverson’s average dropped Saturday to 27.35. Early in the 2004-05 season, Iverson, then with Philadelphia, seized the active scoring average lead from Shaquille O’Neal, then with Miami. O’Neal had taken it over after Michael Jordan, the all-time leader, retired following the 2002-03 season.
Euroleague Week 9 MVP: Immanuel McElroy
Euroleague.net reports: Not only did his outstanding performance allow Alba Berlin to register its first Euroleague road win this season and put one foot in the Top 16, but Immanuel McElroy played well enough in his team’s most pivotal game that he also earned the Week 9 MVP honor with an index rating of 38. Thanks to his near-perfect scoring show, Alba was able to steal a 75-79 road win against DKV Joventut in a Group C showdown for survival on Thursday. McElroy dominated the game and finished with 26 points, missing only one shot all night.
Aldridge scores 26 points in Blazers win over Warriors
The AP reports: Although Portland’s plan was to treat Brandon Roy with caution, by the fourth quarter against Golden State it was clear that no special treatment was necessary. Roy had 19 points in his return from a hamstring injury to help the Trail Blazers beat the short-handed Warriors 113-100 on Saturday night… Roy’s return clearly inspired Portland, which trailed by 12 points in the first half, then led by 18 in the second. LaMarcus Aldridge led the Blazers with 26 points. Corey Maggette had 25 points for the Warriors, who lost their fifth straight game. Golden State cut it to 99-94 on Maggette’s 3-pointer and Kelenna Azubuike’s jumper with 4:26 left, but couldn’t get any closer… Travis Outlaw added 19 points for the Blazers, who had six players in double figures. Greg Oden had 10 points and eight rebounds.
Jazz beat Pistons for 8th straight time, 99-82
The AP reports: The Utah Jazz wouldn’t mind facing the Detroit Pistons more than twice a season. Detroit can’t seem to beat Utah, especially with former Piston Mehmet Okur leading the Jazz. Okur had 22 points and seven rebounds against his former team and the Jazz beat the Pistons for the eighth straight time, 99-82 on Saturday night… Andrei Kirilenko had 11 points and seven rebounds, and Matt Harpring also scored 11 points to help the Jazz sweep the Pistons for the fourth straight season. Rodney Stuckey led the Pistons with 19 points. Allen Iverson added 11 points and five assists for Detroit, which last beat Utah in March 2005.
Thunder pull out 109-98 OT win over Bulls
The AP reports: Kevin Durant scored 28 points, Nick Collison added a season-high 21, and the Oklahoma City Thunder rallied to beat the Chicago Bulls 109-98 in overtime Saturday night… Trailing by seven midway through the fourth quarter, Oklahoma City had a chance to win it at the end of regulation. But with the score tied at 94, Durant a missed jumper from the top of the key, and Russell Westbrook missed a tip-in try… Chicago got 22 points from Ben Gordon, and 20 from Drew Gooden, who also had 12 rebounds. That gave him three straight double-doubles after missing eight games with a sprained ankle.
Scola, Alston lead Rockets past Knicks 96-76
The AP reports: Tracy McGrady and Ron Artest were out, the Houston Rockets were just back from a five-game trip and facing a team that was going to force a fast pace. Perfect. Luis Scola had 18 points and 11 rebounds, Rafer Alston added 17 points and six assists and the undermanned Rockets didn’t miss their two stars at all, taking advantage of New York’s poor shooting to beat the Knicks 96-76 on Saturday night. Aaron Brooks scored 16 points, Von Wafer had 15 and Yao Ming 14 for the Rockets, who’ve won nine of their last 10 home games… Tim Thomas scored 18 points, Nate Robinson had 17 and Lee added 14 points and 11 rebounds for his eighth consecutive double-double for New York.
Wolves rally to beat Bucks 106-104 for 5th straight
The AP reports: Randy Foye scored 10 of his 11 points in the fourth quarter and the Timberwolves rallied from 13 points down in the second half for a thrilling 106-104 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night. Coach Kevin McHale was ejected after the first quarter with two quick technicals by referee Sean Corbin and Al Jefferson fouled out with 1:29 to play and the Wolves clinging to a three-point lead… Rodney Carney scored 22 points, and Sebastian Telfair added 17 points and 11 assists for the Wolves, who have won five in a row for the first time since December 2005. Michael Redd scored 32 points for Milwaukee, but missed a chance to tie it in the final 9 seconds. Richard Jefferson added 29 points for the Bucks, who led by 13 points with less than 3 minutes to play in the third quarter before Carney got going.