Associated Press
MIAMI ó The circus comes to Miami this week, so it seemed appropriate for the Heat to force the San Antonio Spurs into walking the proverbial tightrope.
For the surging Southwest Division leaders, it wasn’t a problem.
Tim Duncan scored 19 points and grabbed nine rebounds, and the Spurs trailed for only one possession in a nip-and-tuck 91-84 win over the Heat on Monday night, San Antonio’s 14th victory in its last 17 games.
George Hill scored 15 points on 4-for-4 shooting for the Spurs, who got 11 points from both Roger Mason and Matt Bonner and 10 from Manu Ginobili.
Dwyane Wade had 24 points and 12 assists ó his eighth double-double of the season ó for the Heat. Miami got 15 points from Shawn Marion, and Michael Beasley had his first double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
Miami starts a seven-game, 13-day, 7,461-mile road trip in Denver on Wednesday night.
Nets 98, Kings 90
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. ó Vince Carter scored 29 points, Yi Jianlian added 22 points and a season-high 13 rebounds and the New Jersey Nets handed the Sacramento Kings their 11th straight road loss.
Jarvis Hayes had a go-ahead 3-pointer with 4:53 to play as the Nets won consecutive games at home for the first time this season. New Jersey won despite playing the second half without point guard Devin Harris, who aggravated a hamstring injury before the break.
Kevin Martin had 36 points for the woeful Kings (8-27).
Bucks 107, Raptors 97
MILWAUKEE ó Michael Redd had a season-high 35 points and Charlie Villanueva scored 13 of his 25 in the fourth quarter, leading Milwaukee to its first win without Andrew Bogut in 21 months.
Milwaukee, which finished the game on a 13-0 run, lost its previous nine games ó including four this season ó without Bogut, the former No. 1 pick who missed his second straight game Monday with back spasms.
The Raptors, playing without center Jermaine O’Neal and guard Jose Calderon on this two-game road trip, turned to Chris Bosh, who had 31 points and 11 rebounds.
Jazz 119, Warriors 114
SALT LAKE CITY ó Deron Williams had 25 points and 15 assists, and Ronnie Brewer scored seven crucial points down the stretch.
The Warriors lost Stephen Jackson to a hamstring injury at the end of the first half.
Nuggets 135, Pacers 115
DENVER ó Kenyon Martin had 25 points and Chauncey Billups scored 13 of his 24 points in the final quarter.
The Nuggets, who have won four in a row, set a season high for points.