Bobcats 96, Bulls 91
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — D.J. Augustin had 22 points and 12 assists, outplaying Derrick Rose in the Charlotte Bobcats’ 96-91 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night.
The Bulls, off to their best start since their last title under Michael Jordan in 1998, couldn’t keep it going with Jordan sitting courtside.
The Bobcats owner stood and clapped as the final seconds ticked down in Charlotte’s fourth straight win. Ex-Bull Tyrus Thomas added 17 points and 13 rebounds as the Bobcats moved to 6-2 under interim coach Paul Silas.
Carlos Boozer had 23 points and 14 rebounds, and Luol Deng added 22 points for Chicago, which lost for only the fifth time in 20 games.
Rose, who had been on a tear of late, scored 17 points on 5-of-17 shooting and committed a key turnover in the final minute.
Grizzlies 107, Pistons 99
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Zach Randolph had 34 points and 17 rebounds for Memphis, and Rudy Gay scored 26 points.
The Pistons debuted a new starting lineup — and benched Richard Hamilton. Ben Wallace (ankle) missed the game and was replaced by rookie Greg Monroe, while Tracy McGrady and Chris Wilcox came in for Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva.
Gordon had 25 points, all in the second half, and Monroe had his fourth straight double-double, finishing with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Memphis, which snapped a two-game losing streak, also got nine assists from Mike Conley.
Hamilton, rumored to be part of a potential Carmelo Anthony trade, did not play — the first game he has missed due to coach’s decision since sitting out the final regular-season game of the 2008-09 season to rest for the playoffs.
Celtics 119, Kings 95
BOSTON — Paul Pierce scored 25 points and Rajon Rondo had 10 points and 13 assists, leading the Celtics to the victory.
Pierce scored 15 in the first quarter as Boston got off to a quick start while bouncing back from a surprising home loss to Houston on Monday night. The Celtics had been 5-5 since Christmas, when they lost to the Orlando Magic to end a 14-game winning streak.
Reserve Carl Landry scored 17 points and Beno Udrih had 16 for Sacramento, which has lost 12 consecutive road games. The Kings lost 136-133 in overtime to the Wizards in Washington on Tuesday night and arrived in Boston at 3:30 a.m., just beating the worst of the blizzard that blanketed the Boston area with more than a foot of snow.
Pacers 102, Mavericks 89
INDIANAPOLIS — Brandon Rush scored eight of his 20 points in the fourth quarter to help Indiana get the victory.
Danny Granger and Darren Collison both scored 17 points and rookie Paul George added a season-high 16 for the Pacers, who won their second straight.
Jason Terry scored 18 points and Tyson Chandler had 13 points, nine rebounds and three blocks for the Mavericks in a disappointing return to Conseco Fieldhouse for former Pacers coach Rick Carlisle.
Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki missed his eighth straight game with a sprained right knee.
Hawks 104, Raptors 101
TORONTO — Mike Bibby made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 8.2 seconds left, Jamal Crawford scored a season-high 36 points and Atlanta earned its fifth straight victory.
Joe Johnson scored 26 points and Al Horford had 10 points and 13 rebounds for the Hawks, who have won nine of their past 11 meetings with the Raptors.
Leandro Barbosa scored a season-high 26 points for the Raptors, who also got 26 from Andrea Bargnani. Toronto has lost five of seven and 14 of 19.
Jose Calderon had 11 points and nine assists for Toronto, but lost the ball out of bounds in the final 10 seconds and his team down by a point.
Wednesday's NBA Capsules
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