Associated Press
From around the NBA…
CHARLOTTE ó Stephen Jackson scored 27 points and the Charlotte Bobcats stayed hot under new coach Paul Silas with a 96-82 victory over the listless Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night in a game played in a nearly empty arena because of a snowstorm.
A crowd of about 1,000 fans braved the treacherous roads that shut down much of the city to watch the Bobcats move to 5-2 since Larry Brown was fired. D.J. Augustin added 18 points and nine assists and Matt Carroll scored 12 points for Charlotte, which was never threatened.
Zach Randolph had 15 points and 15 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who lost their second straight thanks to terrible shooting. Memphis missed 33 of its first 42 shots in falling behind by 16 points in the second quarter.
Rudy Gay was held to 13 points on 5-of-16 shooting, Mike Conleyís 13 points came on 6-of-17 shooting and O.J. Mayo missed seven of eight shots for the Grizzlies, who beat the Bobcats by 33 points last month.
But not even an odd atmosphere of nearly no fans could stop the Bobcats from continuing their resurgence under Silas, who took over a 9-19 team on Dec. 22.
The Bobcats overcame 18 turnovers with 51 percent shooting from the field in their third straight win despite again playing without starters Gerald Wallace (ankle) and Nazr Mohammed (knee).
Players arrived without much difficulty amid the rare intense snowstorm that dumped about six inches of snow in downtown Charlotte before turning to sleet and freezing rain near tipoff. The Bobcats decided to put a tarp on the upper deck and invite fans to sit near the court.
Not many did.
While owner Michael Jordan was in his customary courtside seat next to the Bobcats bench, there were large swaths of empty seats. When the music wasnít playing during play, you could hear players talking on the court, individual conversations in the stands and nearly every heckler.City.
The Grizzlies shot 39 percent from the field and committed 16 turnovers in their fourth straight loss in Charlotte.
Rockets 108, Celtics 102
BOSTON ó Aaron Brooks scored 24 points, hitting a pair of free throws with 18 seconds left after Boston cut a 12-point deficit to four and the Houston Rockets held on for a 108-102 victory over the Celtics on Monday night.
The Rockets snapped a five-game losing streak despite playing without leading scorer Kevin Martin.
Kyle Lowry had 17 with eight assists, Luis Scola scored 12 with nine rebounds and Jordan Hill had 12 points and eight rebounds for the Rockets.
Ray Allen scored 19 for Boston, Marquis Daniels had season highs of 19 points and seven rebounds and Rajon Rondo had 12 assists. The Celtics have lost two straight, but they hope that Kevin Garnett will be able to return against Sacramento on Wednesday.
Bulls 95, Pistons 82
CHICAGO ó Derrick Rose scored 29 points and Carlos Boozer added 27 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 95-82 win over the Detroit Pistons on Monday night.
Luol Deng added 17 points and eight rebounds for the Bulls, who have won seven straight home games.
The Bulls erased Detroitís 12-point halftime lead midway through the third quarter behind Boozer. He scored nine quick points with his jumper tying it at 61 with 4:54 left in the quarter.
Dengís dunk gave the Bulls a 71-70 lead then Rose took over. He scored the final five points of the period on a three-point play and a 15-footer to give the Bulls a six-point lead.
Rose finished the quarter with 11 points.
The Bulls guard continued his run in the fourth, scoring on a nifty alley-oop dunk from Ronnie Brewer.
Boozerís jumper gave the Bulls an 86-78 lead with 3:54 left and Brewerís 3 a minute later put the game away.
Pistons guard Richard Hamilton played, despite his name circulating in a blockbuster three-team trade centering around Carmelo Anthony. The reported deal would reunite Chauncey Billups and Hamilton in New Jersey along with Anthony.
New Jersey would send rookie power forward Derrick Favors, point guard Devin Harris and others to Denver in the deal that would get them Anthony, Billups, Hamilton, Shelden Williams and Terrico White, who is injured. The Pistons would receive veteran Troy Murphy and center Johan Petro. Murphy has a nearly $12 million contract that will expire after this season.
Hamilton finished with two points off the bench in 21 minutes. He was 0-for-5 from the field.
The Pistons controlled most of the first half thanks to a breakout quarter by Austin Daye. Daye showed off his versatily with his inside out game. He drove the lane for a dunk to give Detroit a 40-31 lead then he made a 3 to give the Pistons a 55-43 lead at the half. Daye scored all 14 of his points in the second quarter, making all six of his shots.
NOTES: Pistons C Ben Wallace left the game and did not return with a sore left ankle after his ankle tangled up with Bulls C Kurt Thomas on the opening tip. … The Bulls are making a late push to get Rose voted into the All-Star game as a starter by placing placards on every seat for Saturdayís game against the Miami Heat. Rose is currently in third place for guards behind Celtics guard Rajon Rondo in the voting. The Bulls have not had a starter since Michael Jordan was selected in 1998. … Brewer finished with 11 points.
The Associated Press
01/10/11 22:37