Associated Press
The NBA roundup …
SAN ANTONIO ó Manu Ginobili scored 20 points, Tony Parker made a surprise return to the starting lineup and the San Antonio Spurs handed the skidding Miami Heat their most lopsided loss of the season, 125-95 on Friday night.
In the first meeting between these NBA heavyweights, the Spurs (51-11) improved the league’s best record and kept the Heat in a tailspin. A night after blowing a 24-point lead in a stunning loss to Orlando, Miami trailed by 24 after just one quarter and lost for the fourth time in five games.
Celtics 107, Warriors 103
BOSTON ó Ray Allen couldn’t miss early, and he was in the perfect place at the end.
Allen capped another great shooting night by grabbing a critical offensive rebound with 12 seconds remaining to help the Boston Celtics hold off Monta Ellis and the Golden State Warriors 107-103.
Allen made his first seven shots and finished with 27 points. He also pulled down three rebounds ó none bigger than the one he grabbed off Kevin Garnett’s miss with the Celtics holding just a two-point lead.
Bulls 89, Magic 81
ORLANDO, Fla. ó Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose hardly looked like an MVP candidate earlier this week in a humbling loss at Atlanta.
He and his teammates took out some of their frustrations Friday night against Orlando.
Rose scored 24 points and Luol Deng added 16 to help Chicago hang on for an 89-81 win over the Magic in a matchup of two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.
Mavs 116, Pacers 108
DALLAS ó Once again, Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry came through in crunch time for the Dallas Mavericks.
Nowitzki scored 29 points, Terry added 21 and the Mavericks pulled away in the final 3 minutes to stretch their winning streak to eight games with a 116-108 victory over the Indiana Pacers.
Nets 116, Raptors 103
LONDON ó The New Jersey Nets are still far away from their Russian owner’s goal of making the team a global brand. But they’re the the most successful team in in Europe.
Brook Lopez scored 25 points and New Jersey ended a six-game losing streak with a 116-103 victory over Toronto Raptors on Friday in the first regular-season game on the continent.
Hornets 98, Grizzlies 91
MEMPHIS, Tenn. ó So much for Chris Paul’s offensive woes.
Paul had 23 points and 14 assists, Willie Green keyed a fourth-quarter rally and the New Orleans Hornets beat the Memphis Grizzlies 98-91.
Suns 102, Bucks 88
MILWAUKEE ó Channing Frye insists no one expects the Phoenix Suns to reach the postseason. That’s exactly what might make them so dangerous.
Frye scored 20 points and the Suns used a blistering 19-0 run in the third quarter to flip a deficit into a big lead in a 102-88 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.
Cavs 119, Knicks 115
NEW YORK ó Baron Davis picked up right where LeBron James left off. Davis scored 18 points in his Cavaliers debut, leading a stunning rally in the fourth quarter as Cleveland beat New York for the 11th straight time.
Thunder 111, Hawks 104
ATLANTA ó Kevin Durant scored 29 points despite a sore ankle and Russell Westbrook hit a clinching 3-pointer, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 111-104 victory.