Associated Press
The NBA roundup …
PHOENIX ó Steve Nash scored 22 points despite leaving with an ankle injury and the Phoenix Suns beat the Charlotte Bobcats 112-102 Tuesday night, spoiling the return of Boris Diaw and Raja Bell to US Airways Center.
This was the first time Diaw and Bell had returned to Phoenix since being traded to Charlotte two months ago. They combined to almost upset the Suns.
Diaw finished with a season-high 27 points, along with nine rebounds and six assists. Bell scored 23 with three rebounds and three assists.
The Suns, however, had more balanced scoring. Shaquille O’Neal had 20 points and 10 rebounds. Jason Richardson, who came to Phoenix in the deal with Charlotte, also had 20 points. Leandro Barbosa scored 17 and Matt Barnes 14.
Spurs 93, Mavericks 76SAN ANTONIO ó Tony Parker had 37 points and 12 assists with All-Star teammate Tim Duncan sitting out with a sore right knee, and the short-handed San Antonio Spurs held the Dallas Mavericks to their worst offensive showing this season in a 93-76 victory.
Parker scored 26 points in the first half and shouldered the load without Duncan and Manu Ginobili, who hasn’t played since the All-Star break because of a stress reaction in his right ankle.
Heat 103, Pistons 91
MIAMI ó Dwyane Wade scored 31 points and had a career-high 16 assists, leading the Miami Heat to a 103-91 win Tuesday night and handing the Pistons their seventh straight loss ó Detroit’s longest slide in more than seven years.
Allen Iverson scored 22 points and Tayshaun Prince added 18 for the Pistons (27-28), who fell under .500 this late in a season for the first time since 2000-01.
Lakers 107, Thunder 93
OKLAHOMA CITY ó Kobe Bryant scored 10 of his 36 points in a 3-minute span of the fourth quarter to thwart an Oklahoma City rally and lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 107-93 victory.
Bryant moved into 19th place on the NBA’s career scoring list, moving ahead of Adrian Dantley only one game after he passed Elgin Baylor for 20th. Entering the game, he had needed only 13 points to tie Dantley.
Cavaliers 94, Grizzlies 79
CLEVELAND ó Daniel Gibson scored 19 points and Mo Williams added 18, leading Cleveland over Memphis.
The Cavaliers never trailed, making for a relatively easy night for LeBron James, the NBA’s second-leading scorer. James scored 15 points in 30 minutes and didn’t play the fourth quarter.
Raptors 118, Timberwolves 100
TORONTO ó Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani each scored 26 points, Anthony Parker had 24, and Toronto beat Minnesota for the 10th consecutive time.
Bulls 120, Magic 102
CHICAGO ó Derrick Rose scored 22 points and the Chicago Bulls got strong efforts from their three newcomers in a 120-102 victory over the Orlando Magic.