Associated Press
WASHINGTON ó The Charlotte Bobcats have never made the playoffs. They’ve never had a .500 record. But after their easy 92-76 win over the Washington Wizards on Saturday night, the Bobcats were feeling especially confident.
Their first road win this season was their fourth straight overall ó the team’s longest streak since a five-game run from Feb. 25-March 7, 2009 ó and improved them to 7-9.
The Bobcats had six players in double figures, led by Gerald Wallace, who had 14 points and 14 rebounds. Tyson Chandler, Raymond Felton and Nazr Mohammed each had 12 points.
“Our offense was kind of spread around tonight,” Wallace said. “Defense has basically been the key throughout our whole season.”
The Wizards failed in their attempt to win three in a row for the first time since April 2008.
Charlotte never trailed and held Washington to 13 points in the second quarter to take a 42-32 halftime lead. The Wizards missed 14 of their 18 field goal attempts in the quarter.
The Bobcats scored seven of the first nine points in the third to take a 49-34 lead with 8:19 to play. They led by as many as 22 late in the third quarter.
Charlotte continued its run of outstanding defense. The Bobcats have allowed 100 points just once this season, and the 76 points scored by the Wizards equaled their lowest output of the season.
Cavs 111, Mavs 95
CLEVELAND ó Mo Williams made 7 of 7 3-point attempts, LeBron James scored 25 points with 12 assists and the Cleveland Cavaliers rebounded from a lackluster loss in Charlotte by beating the road-tested Dallas Mavericks 111-95.
Williams finished with 25 points and Anderson Varejao scored 15 ó 13 in the second half ó for the Cavs.
Delonte West added 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Dirk Nowitzki scored 27 and Jason Terry 25 for Dallas.
Bobcats 92, Wizards 76WASHINGTON (AP) ó Gerald Wallace had 14 points and 14 rebounds, and Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton each scored 12 points for Charlotte.
The win was the Bobcats’ fourth straight ó their longest winning streak since a five-game run from Feb. 25-March 7, 2009.
Caron Butler scored 19 points to lead the Wizards, who failed in their attempt to win three in a row for the first time since April 2008.