Published Dec. 27, 2012
Times wires
ORLANDO - The Hornets were hoping that the way Robin Lopez has been playing recently would eventually translate into a much needed victory.
It took another nail-nibbling finish, but their patience paid off.
Lopez had a season-high 29 points and Greivis Vasquez scored a season-best 27 as the Hornets ended an 11-game losing streak with a 97-94 win over the Magic on Wednesday night.
The victory was the Hornets' first since Dec. 3 and came with guard Eric Gordon getting closer to playing for the first time this season coming off knee surgery.
"That comes from my teammates. They look for me. They're giving me looks," Lopez said of his big night. "We've been scrapping, but it's just one game. We want to string together a few."
Point guard Jameer Nelson had a season-high 28 points and 10 rebounds to lead Orlando, and center Nik Vucevic had 19 points.
The Magic shot above 60 percent in the first half but fell to 45 percent for the game (36-for-79). It was able to stay in the game thanks to 11 3-pointers.
Orlando has lost three straight since starting forward Glen Davis was sidelined with a sprained left shoulder.
His absence was exploited all night by a Hornets offense that, led by Lopez, outscored Orlando 44-38 in the paint. Rookie Anthony Davis contributed to the Magic's misery underneath with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Hornets forward Ryan Anderson, traded by Orlando in the offseason, didn't shoot well (4-for-11) but finished with 15 points.
It marked the first time in three games the Hornets were able to close out a close game after losing their previous two by six and five points, respectively.
"It's huge for us," Anderson said. "Not only is it nice to beat the team that traded me, but it's great for this team. It's great for the morale. We've been battling to get a win. We've been fighting to the end. And this was a big step."
Orlando didn't score a field goal in the final 6:08 of the game, but it still had a chance to tie in the closing seconds.
Vucevic wound up in the corner and missed a 3-pointer off the side of the rim.
Heat sends Bobcatsto 16th loss in a row
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - LeBron James had 27 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists as the Heat handed the Bobcats their 16th straight defeat, 105-92, then celebrated with a group "Wooooo!" as pro wrestling legend Ric Flair was in attendance.
"When I was a kid, I loved wrestling," James said as Flair left the locker room. "He was one of the guys I loved, too. I think he's one of the creators of what we call swag these days with the Rolexes and the stretch limos and all the girls and all that stuff. He's one of the creators of swag."
Dwyane Wade scored 29 as Miami extended its winning streak to six a night after an emotional win over Oklahoma City.
Heat guard Ray Allen missed the game because of a sore right shoulder from setting a pick earlier in the week.
Kemba Walker scored 27, and Ramon Sessions added 19 for the Bobcats (7-21), who haven't won since Nov. 24.
Postponed: The Pacers postponed Wednesday's game against the Bulls because of the snowstorm that hit the Indianapolis area. No rescheduled date has been set.
Game highlights: James Harden scored 17 of his 30 in the fourth quarter, and the Rockets rallied to win their fifth straight, 87-84 over the host Timberwolves. Kevin Love returned from an eye injury with 12 rebounds for Minnesota, but he scored just seven points on 3-for-14 shooting. ... Dorell Wright scored 28 and Spencer Hawes had 20, season-highs for both, and the 76ers ended a six-game road losing streak with a 99-89 victory over the Grizzlies, who played without leading scorer Rudy Gay. The team said Gay was listed as absent for "personal reasons." No other information was immediately available.... Tristan Thompson's three-point play with 24.4 seconds remaining gave the Cavaliers their first two-game winning streak of the season as they beat the host Wizards 87-84. Kyrie Irving scored 26 to lead Cleveland. Jordan Crawford missed a 3-pointer as time ran out. ... Brandon Jennings scored 25, Monta Ellis added 20 with a season-high six steals, and the host Bucks beat the short-handed Nets for the 13th straight time, 108-93. The Nets were without starting guard Deron Williams, who sat out after aggravating his sore right wrist. ... Josh Smith scored 31, former Gator Al Horford added 22 and the host Hawks blew a 22-point fourth-quarter lead but beat the Pistons 126-119 in double overtime. Detroit reserves Will Bynum and Charlie Villanueva scored a combined 26 in the final quarter of regulation to rally the Pistons.
Around the league: Nuggets forward Jordan Hamilton was fined $25,000 by the league for his vulgar exchange with a fan caught by TV cameras during a Christmas Day loss to the Clippers. ... Knicks starters Carmelo Anthony (hyperextended knee) and Raymond Felton (right pinkie) did not play against the Suns because of their injuries.
Clippers' string Hits 14: Jamal Crawford led the reserves with 22 points as the host Clippers extended their franchise-record winning streak to 14 games with a 112-100 victory over the Nuggets late Tuesday. The bench outscored the Clippers starters 64-48 in claiming the NBA's best record at 22-6.
Hornets 97, Magic 94
NEW ORLEANS (97): Thomas 0-2 0-0 0, A.Davis 6-14 0-0 12, Lopez 9-10 11-12 29, Vasquez 12-21 2-2 27, Rivers 2-7 0-0 4, McGuire 3-3 0-0 6, Anderson 4-11 6-6 15, Roberts 1-5 0-0 2, Mason 0-1 0-0 0, Henry 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 38-76 19-20 97.
ORLANDO (94): Harkless 1-5 0-0 2, Ayon 2-4 0-0 4, Vucevic 8-17 3-5 19, Nelson 11-17 2-2 28, Afflalo 6-14 0-0 14, Redick 2-10 6-6 12, McRoberts 2-3 0-0 5, Moore 4-9 0-0 10, Nicholson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 36-79 11-13 94.
New Orleans26232919-97
Orlando24292318-94
3-Point Goals-New Orleans 2-12 (Vasquez 1-4, Anderson 1-5, Rivers 0-1, Mason 0-1, Roberts 0-1), Orlando 11-30 (Nelson 4-8, Moore 2-5, Redick 2-7, Afflalo 2-7, McRoberts 1-1, Vucevic 0-1, Harkless 0-1). Fouled Out-None. Rebounds-New Orleans 40 (A.Davis 11), Orlando 44 (Vucevic 9). Assists-New Orleans 19 (Vasquez 8), Orlando 25 (Nelson 10). Total Fouls-New Orleans 17, Orlando 17. Technicals-Orlando defensive three second. A-18,846.
Heat 105, Bobcats 92
MIAMI (105): James 9-19 7-8 27, Haslem 0-4 0-0 0, Bosh 6-12 1-3 14, Chalmers 5-10 3-4 17, Wade 10-19 8-10 29, Battier 3-5 0-0 9, Anthony 0-0 0-0 0, Miller 0-2 0-0 0, Cole 2-6 0-0 4, Jones 2-4 0-0 5. Totals 37-81 19-25 105.
CHARLOTTE (92): Kidd-Gilchrist 2-6 2-2 6, Warrick 8-12 2-3 18, Biyombo 3-8 1-3 7, Walker 9-20 5-7 27, Henderson 5-19 4-5 14, Sessions 7-12 4-6 19, Diop 0-1 0-0 0, Taylor 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 34-78 19-28 92.
Miami27282327-105
Charlotte18203321-92
3-Point Goals-Miami 12-23 (Chalmers 4-6, Battier 3-5, James 2-4, Wade 1-1, Bosh 1-1, Jones 1-3, Miller 0-1, Cole 0-2), Charlotte 5-14 (Walker 4-8, Sessions 1-3, Henderson 0-3). Fouled Out-None. Rebounds-Miami 50 (James 12), Charlotte 53 (Biyombo 10). Assists-Miami 21 (James 8), Charlotte 18 (Walker 6). Total Fouls-Miami 25, Charlotte 22. Technicals-Haslem, Henderson. A-19,602.
Cavaliers 87, Wizards 84
CLEVELAND (87): Gee 4-9 1-2 10, Thompson 5-9 5-5 15, Zeller 3-10 0-0 6, Irving 8-23 7-11 26, Waiters 3-11 1-2 9, Gibson 3-4 1-3 10, Walton 3-6 0-0 6, Miles 1-6 0-0 3, Pargo 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 31-82 15-23 87.
WASHINGTON (84): Webster 5-7 0-0 12, Nene 6-10 4-5 16, Okafor 8-14 1-2 17, Mack 2-6 0-0 6, Beal 0-5 2-2 2, Seraphin 2-6 0-0 4, Vesely 1-2 0-2 2, Martin 2-6 0-0 4, Crawford 7-15 3-3 17, Temple 1-3 0-0 2, Singleton 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 35-76 10-14 84.
Cleveland22232319-87
Washington26172516-84
3-Point Goals-Cleveland 10-27 (Gibson 3-4, Irving 3-9, Waiters 2-5, Gee 1-2, Miles 1-5, Walton 0-1, Pargo 0-1), Washington 4-18 (Webster 2-3, Mack 2-3, Vesely 0-1, Martin 0-2, Temple 0-2, Beal 0-2, Crawford 0-5). Fouled Out-None. Rebounds-Cleveland 47 (Thompson 12), Washington 57 (Okafor, Webster 10). Assists-Cleveland 20 (Irving 8), Washington 22 (Mack 7). Total Fouls-Cleveland 16, Washington 21. Technicals-Washington defensive three second. A-13,846.
Rockets 87, Timberwolves 84
HOUSTON (87): Parsons 5-12 0-0 12, Morris 3-9 2-3 8, Asik 4-6 1-2 9, Lin 3-9 2-2 8, Harden 11-22 6-6 30, Delfino 4-13 0-0 11, Smith 1-1 1-2 3, Douglas 2-9 0-0 6. Totals 33-81 12-15 87.
MINNESOTA (84): Kirilenko 2-6 4-6 8, Love 3-14 1-1 7, Pekovic 1-7 0-0 2, Ridnour 3-10 1-2 8, Shved 7-15 0-0 16, Rubio 2-5 4-4 8, Cunningham 4-6 0-0 8, Barea 7-14 2-2 18, Williams 3-7 1-2 9. Totals 32-84 13-17 84.
Houston22221726-87
Minnesota17301720-84
3-Point Goals-Houston 9-31 (Delfino 3-11, Douglas 2-5, Parsons 2-5, Harden 2-5, Lin 0-2, Morris 0-3), Minnesota 7-28 (Williams 2-3, Barea 2-6, Shved 2-7, Ridnour 1-3, Kirilenko 0-1, Rubio 0-1, Love 0-7). Fouled Out-None. Rebounds-Houston 55 (Asik 17), Minnesota 52 (Love 12). Assists-Houston 19 (Parsons 5), Minnesota 18 (Ridnour 4). Total Fouls-Houston 19, Minnesota 12. A-20,340.
76ers 99, Grizzlies 89
PHILADELPHIA (99): Wright 8-11 7-8 28, T.Young 6-10 1-2 13, L.Allen 2-6 2-4 6, Holiday 5-16 2-2 13, Turner 0-4 1-2 1, Hawes 9-14 2-4 20, N.Young 5-7 1-1 12, Ivey 2-3 0-0 6. Totals 37-71 16-23 99.
MEMPHIS (89): Pondexter 3-10 4-4 13, Randolph 10-18 2-2 23, Gasol 9-15 0-0 18, Conley 3-17 3-3 10, T.Allen 3-8 0-0 6, Ellington 1-6 0-0 2, Arthur 3-6 2-2 8, Speights 2-4 3-6 7, Bayless 1-6 0-0 2. Totals 35-90 14-17 89.
Philadelphia26232624-99
Memphis29182319-89
3-Point Goals-Philadelphia 9-16 (Wright 5-8, Ivey 2-2, Holiday 1-2, N.Young 1-3, Hawes 0-1), Memphis 5-15 (Pondexter 3-7, Randolph 1-1, Conley 1-3, Arthur 0-1, Bayless 0-1, T.Allen 0-1, Ellington 0-1). Fouled Out-None. Rebounds-Philadelphia 49 (Hawes 9), Memphis 50 (Randolph 9). Assists-Philadelphia 23 (Turner, Holiday 9), Memphis 22 (Gasol 8). Total Fouls-Philadelphia 15, Memphis 18. Technicals-Philadelphia defensive three second. A-16,055.
Bucks 108, Nets 93
BROOKLYN (93): Johnson 5-15 2-2 13, Wallace 2-8 4-4 8, Lopez 9-18 3-5 21, Watson 2-12 4-4 8, Bogans 4-8 1-1 11, Brooks 2-5 1-1 5, Blatche 5-10 4-5 14, Stackhouse 1-5 0-0 2, Evans 0-0 2-2 2, Taylor 3-6 0-0 7, Shengelia 0-0 0-0 0, Teletovic 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 34-88 21-24 93.
MILWAUKEE (108): Daniels 2-5 0-0 5, Mbah a Moute 0-3 0-0 0, Sanders 6-11 0-0 12, Jennings 9-15 4-4 25, Ellis 7-14 3-4 20, Dunleavy 6-12 3-3 17, Udrih 2-5 0-0 4, Udoh 4-11 0-0 8, Ilyasova 4-7 8-8 17, Lamb 0-1 0-0 0, Henson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 40-84 18-19 108.
Brooklyn24182526-93
Milwaukee22332330-108
3-Point Goals-Brooklyn 4-21 (Bogans 2-5, Taylor 1-2, Johnson 1-4, Blatche 0-1, Brooks 0-1, Wallace 0-2, Watson 0-3, Stackhouse 0-3), Milwaukee 10-17 (Ellis 3-3, Jennings 3-4, Dunleavy 2-6, Ilyasova 1-1, Daniels 1-2, Udrih 0-1). Fouled Out-None. Rebounds-Brooklyn 50 (Wallace 12), Milwaukee 52 (Sanders 12). Assists-Brooklyn 17 (Wallace 8), Milwaukee 24 (Ellis 7). Total Fouls-Brooklyn 18, Milwaukee 20. Technicals-Blatche, Milwaukee defensive three second. A-13,102.
Hawks 126, Pistons 119, 20T
DETROIT (119): Prince 6-12 0-0 14, Maxiell 0-3 1-2 1, Monroe 4-11 2-2 10, Knight 3-8 2-2 9, Singler 0-3 0-0 0, Stuckey 7-19 1-1 16, Drummond 7-9 2-4 16, Bynum 13-26 1-2 31, Villanueva 5-12 0-2 14, Daye 3-6 0-0 8. Totals 48-109 9-15 119.
ATLANTA (126): Korver 2-11 2-2 8, Smith 13-25 4-8 31, Horford 9-15 4-8 22, Teague 4-10 8-8 17, Williams 7-14 2-2 18, Stevenson 3-7 0-0 8, Pachulia 1-3 2-2 4, Morrow 6-10 1-1 16, Johnson 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 46-98 23-31 126.
Detroit13321739711-119
Atlanta28223120718-126
3-Point Goals-Detroit 14-27 (Bynum 4-6, Villanueva 4-9, Prince 2-2, Daye 2-3, Knight 1-3, Stuckey 1-3, Singler 0-1), Atlanta 11-33 (Morrow 3-5, Stevenson 2-6, Williams 2-7, Korver 2-9, Teague 1-2, Smith 1-3, Johnson 0-1). Fouled Out-None. Rebounds-Detroit 71 (Drummond 12), Atlanta 56 (Smith, Horford 10). Assists-Detroit 21 (Stuckey 11), Atlanta 35 (Teague 11). Total Fouls-Detroit 23, Atlanta 18. Technicals-Drummond. A-15,182.
