NBA Wrap: Billups stars to lead Nuggets over Lakers
02/06/2010 | 03:35 PM
LOS ANGELES — Chauncey Billups scored a career-high 39 points, including nine three-pointers, as the Denver Nuggets beat Los Angeles, 126-113, in the NBA on Friday, ending the Lakers' eight-game home winning streak.
Billups was 12 of 20 from the floor, 9 of 13 from 3-point range and made 6 of 8 free throws to go with eight assists for the Nuggets, who beat the Western Conference leaders despite being without injured Carmelo Anthony for the seventh straight game.
Billups scored 21 points in the third quarter alone — the most against the Lakers in one period since Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia had 23 in 1965-66.
Kobe Bryant scored 33 points on his sprained left ankle, but the Lakers' Western Conference lead was cut to 3 1/2 games.
Hawks 91, Bulls 81
In Atlanta, Josh Smith posted his second career triple-double as the Hawks defeated Chicago.
Smith had 18 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists, while Joe Johnson added 18 points for the Hawks, who regrouped after trailing by six to open the fourth quarter.
Luol Deng had 20 points and eight rebounds for the Bulls, who lost their third straight.
Rockets 101, Grizzlies 83
In Memphis, Tennessee, Aaron Brooks had 19 points and eight rebounds to steer Houston past Memphis.
Trevor Ariza and Carl Landry finished with 17 points apiece for the Rockets.
Marc Gasol led the Grizzlies with 17 points and eight rebounds.
Wizards 92, Magic 91
In Orlando, Florida, Caron Butler made a long jump shot with 0.5 seconds remaining to cap Washington's comeback from a 21-point deficit and victory over Orlando.
Butler finished with 31 points and nine rebounds, and Randy Foye had 22 points and seven assists for the Wizards, who snapped the Magic's winning streak at four.
Vince Carter scored 21 points to lead Orlando.
Suns 114, Kings 102
In Sacramento, California, Phoenix completed a perfect four-game road trip by sinking Sacramento.
Steve Nash had 23 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds, while Amare Stoudemire scored 30 points and had nine rebounds as the Suns completed a four-game road sweep for the first time in three seasons.
The Suns are on a season-long five-game winning streak.
Donte Green scored a career-high 31 points for Sacramento.
76ers 101, Hornets 94
In New Orleans, Thaddeus Young made his first seven shots and finished with 19 points to lead Philadelphia over undermanned New Orleans.
Andre Iguodala scored 14 points for the 76ers, who stretched their winning streak to a season-high three games.
Peja Stojakovic had 23 points for New Orleans, which has without All-Star point guard Chris Paul, who had knee surgery on Thursday and will be out four-to-six weeks.
Timberwolves 117, Mavericks 108
In Dallas, Minnesota finished the game on a 13-2 run to snap a 13-game losing streak against Dallas.
Jonny Flynn scored 19 points for the Timberwolves, while Kevin Love had 17 points and 11 rebounds as the Timberwolves too notched their first three-game winning trot this season.
Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki did not start after he was late for the team's shootaround before the game. The nine-time All-Star finished with 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
Bucks 114, Knicks 107
In New York, Brandon Jennings scored 19 of his 22 points in the second half to steer Milwaukee to victory over New York.
Reserve Ersan Ilyasova — who replaced migraine-stricken starting center Andrew Bogut in the first quarter — added a career-high 25 for the Bucks.
David Lee had a season-high 32 points and grabbed 15 rebounds for the Knicks.
Celtics 96, Nets 87
In Boston, Eddie House scored all 10 of his points in the fourth quarter, helping Boston overcome a slow start and pull away from New Jersey.
The Nets led 73-72 through three quarters as the Celtics, playing lackadaisical defense, seemed in danger of losing to a team that had won just four games all season.
House missed all four of his shots in the first three quarters and his first attempt in the fourth. But then he sank four of five baskets, including a pair of 3-pointers, to give the Celtics an 84-77 lead.
Ray Allen scored 26 points and Rajon Rondo added 17 as Boston won its third straight game.
Brook Lopez scored 19 points for New Jersey, which fell to its fifth straight loss.
Pacers 107, Pistons 83
In Indianapolis, Indiana fell just short of its biggest ever win over Detroit.
Danny Granger scored 25 points and Brandon Rush added 16 for the Pacers, who looked like tying the franchise record of a 26-point margin over the Pistons, until a last second layup cut it to 24.
Ben Gordon scored 26 points for Detroit. – AP
Billups was 12 of 20 from the floor, 9 of 13 from 3-point range and made 6 of 8 free throws to go with eight assists for the Nuggets, who beat the Western Conference leaders despite being without injured Carmelo Anthony for the seventh straight game.
Billups scored 21 points in the third quarter alone — the most against the Lakers in one period since Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia had 23 in 1965-66.
Kobe Bryant scored 33 points on his sprained left ankle, but the Lakers' Western Conference lead was cut to 3 1/2 games.
Hawks 91, Bulls 81
In Atlanta, Josh Smith posted his second career triple-double as the Hawks defeated Chicago.
Smith had 18 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists, while Joe Johnson added 18 points for the Hawks, who regrouped after trailing by six to open the fourth quarter.
Luol Deng had 20 points and eight rebounds for the Bulls, who lost their third straight.
Rockets 101, Grizzlies 83
In Memphis, Tennessee, Aaron Brooks had 19 points and eight rebounds to steer Houston past Memphis.
Trevor Ariza and Carl Landry finished with 17 points apiece for the Rockets.
Marc Gasol led the Grizzlies with 17 points and eight rebounds.
Wizards 92, Magic 91
In Orlando, Florida, Caron Butler made a long jump shot with 0.5 seconds remaining to cap Washington's comeback from a 21-point deficit and victory over Orlando.
Butler finished with 31 points and nine rebounds, and Randy Foye had 22 points and seven assists for the Wizards, who snapped the Magic's winning streak at four.
Vince Carter scored 21 points to lead Orlando.
Suns 114, Kings 102
In Sacramento, California, Phoenix completed a perfect four-game road trip by sinking Sacramento.
Steve Nash had 23 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds, while Amare Stoudemire scored 30 points and had nine rebounds as the Suns completed a four-game road sweep for the first time in three seasons.
The Suns are on a season-long five-game winning streak.
Donte Green scored a career-high 31 points for Sacramento.
76ers 101, Hornets 94
In New Orleans, Thaddeus Young made his first seven shots and finished with 19 points to lead Philadelphia over undermanned New Orleans.
Andre Iguodala scored 14 points for the 76ers, who stretched their winning streak to a season-high three games.
Peja Stojakovic had 23 points for New Orleans, which has without All-Star point guard Chris Paul, who had knee surgery on Thursday and will be out four-to-six weeks.
Timberwolves 117, Mavericks 108
In Dallas, Minnesota finished the game on a 13-2 run to snap a 13-game losing streak against Dallas.
Jonny Flynn scored 19 points for the Timberwolves, while Kevin Love had 17 points and 11 rebounds as the Timberwolves too notched their first three-game winning trot this season.
Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki did not start after he was late for the team's shootaround before the game. The nine-time All-Star finished with 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
Bucks 114, Knicks 107
In New York, Brandon Jennings scored 19 of his 22 points in the second half to steer Milwaukee to victory over New York.
Reserve Ersan Ilyasova — who replaced migraine-stricken starting center Andrew Bogut in the first quarter — added a career-high 25 for the Bucks.
David Lee had a season-high 32 points and grabbed 15 rebounds for the Knicks.
Celtics 96, Nets 87
In Boston, Eddie House scored all 10 of his points in the fourth quarter, helping Boston overcome a slow start and pull away from New Jersey.
The Nets led 73-72 through three quarters as the Celtics, playing lackadaisical defense, seemed in danger of losing to a team that had won just four games all season.
House missed all four of his shots in the first three quarters and his first attempt in the fourth. But then he sank four of five baskets, including a pair of 3-pointers, to give the Celtics an 84-77 lead.
Ray Allen scored 26 points and Rajon Rondo added 17 as Boston won its third straight game.
Brook Lopez scored 19 points for New Jersey, which fell to its fifth straight loss.
Pacers 107, Pistons 83
In Indianapolis, Indiana fell just short of its biggest ever win over Detroit.
Danny Granger scored 25 points and Brandon Rush added 16 for the Pacers, who looked like tying the franchise record of a 26-point margin over the Pistons, until a last second layup cut it to 24.
Ben Gordon scored 26 points for Detroit. – AP
