Associated Press
The NBA roundup …
CHARLOTTE ó Larry Brown and Jerry Sloan have combined for more than 2,000 NBA victories. On Friday night they both had to work hard searching for the right lineups because of key injuries.
In the end it was the well-traveled Brown, now in Charlotte, who edged the permanent fixture on Utah’s bench.
With Raymond Felton scoring 23 points, Gerald Wallace adding 22 and Adam Morrison leading an effective band of reserves, the Bobcats held off the Jazz 104-96 in a matchup of undermanned teams.
“Naturally, they’re short-handed with three really great players out,” Brown said. “But you’ve got to take it any way you can get it.”
While the Bobcats played without top scorer Jason Richardson, the Jazz were without point guard Deron Williams , Andrei Kirilenko and center Mehmet Okur, who is with his sick father in Turkey.
It produced a night of odd lineups and matchups as Brown and Sloan matched wits, with Charlotte’s backups the difference in giving Brown his third win in his ninth NBA job.
Ias Morrison who played the bulk of the minutes at shooting guard. The No. 3 pick in the 2006 draft, who missed all of last season because of a knee injury, scored 15 points, including a 3-pointer with 5:06 left that put Charlotte ahead 87-82.
“I’m feeling a lot better. My body is starting to come back,” said Morrison who hit three of five 3-pointers.
Ryan Hollins added five points, four rebounds and two blocks off the bench, and Wallace and Felton contributed solid free-throw shooting down the stretch as Charlotte snapped a two-game losing streak.
Knicks 116, Thunder 106
NEW YORK ó Jamal Crawford and Zach Randolph each scored 29 points, combining for 10 in the final 4 minutes after New York had blown most of a 30-point lead.
The Knicks (6-3) are off to their best start since also going 6-3 to open the lockout-delayed 1998-99 season.
76ers 94, Pacers 92
INDIANAPOLIS ó Thaddeus Young had 25 points and 10 rebounds and the Philadelphia 76ers overcame a 26-point deficit to beat Indiana 94-92. Andre Miller added 19 points, Elton Brand had 14 points and 15 rebounds.
Heat 97, Wizards 77
MIAMI ó Dwyane Wade scored 24 points before taking the fourth quarter off. Michael Beasley scored 19 points for Miami (5-4).
Antawn Jamison finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds for Washington.
Nets 115, Hawks 108
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. ó Devin Harris, back in the lineup after missing three games because of a sprained left ankle, scored 30 points for New Jersey.