Associated Press
The NBA Roundup …
CHARLOTTE ó With Milwaukee clinging to a three-point lead in the final minute, Richard Jefferson threw the ball into the backcourt and Tyronn Lue stepped on the baseline on consecutive possessions.
The key mistakes that cost the Bucks a victory? Nope. Not when the Charlotte Bobcats were even worse on offense.
The Bucks held on for a 79-74 victory Saturday night in a game where both teams were without their top scorers. It showed. They each shot 37 percent and combined for 39 turnovers.
“This game set the game of basketball back a ways,” Bucks coach Scott Skiles said. “That’s for sure.”
Charlotte was without Jason Richardson (knee) for a fifth straight game, and dropped its fourth straight in a difficult start to coach Larry Brown’s first season.
Gerald Wallace scored 18 points, and Emeka Okafor added 16 points and 18 rebounds before fouling out.
Hornets 109, Thunder 97
NEW ORLEANS ó David West scored a season-high 33 points and Chris Paul had a triple-double to help New Orleans hand Oklahoma City its 11th straight loss and first under interim coach Scott Brooks.
Oklahoma City fired coach P.J. Carlesimo on Saturday after its 105-80 home loss to the Hornets on Friday night.
Knicks 122, Wizards 117
NEW YORK ó Quentin Richardson had 34 points and 12 rebounds in one of his best games since coming to New York, and the short-handed Knicks held on to beat the Washington Wizards 122-117 on Saturday night.
Cavaliers 110, Hawks 96
CLEVELAND ó LeBron James led Cleveland to its ninth win in 10 games, scoring 24 points ó 19 in the second half.
Rockets 100, Magic 95
ORLANDO, Fla. ó Yao Ming had 22 points and 13 rebounds to help Houston win for the fourth time in five games and snap Orlando’s winning streak at five games.
Heat 109, Pacers 100
MIAMI ó Dwyane Wade shook off flu-like symptoms to score 38 points, and Miami rallied from 15 points down to beat Indiana.
Suns 102, Blazers 92
PHOENIX ó Shaquille O’Neal had 19 points and 17 rebounds to power Phoenix.
Nets 112, Clippers 95
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. ó Yi Jianlian scored a season-high 27 points, and Vince Carter added 26 for New Jersey.
Jazz 103, Grizzlies 94
MEMPHIS, Tenn. ó Mehmet Okur had a season-high 23 points for Utah, and Ronnie Brewer added 21 on 10-of-14 shooting.