Kobe Bryant (front) of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after missing a shot, with seconds left in the game that would have won against the Cleveland Cavaliers in their NBA game at The Q in Cleveland, Ohio yesterday. Cavaliers won the game 96-95. - REUTERS
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY (AP)
RICHARD JEFFERSON SCORED 28 points, and the New Jersey Nets beat Dallas 100-89 yesterday for their first victory over the Mavericks in six years.
Vince Carter added 23 points for the Nets, who have won five in a row overall and 18 of 21 at home. Jason Kidd rebounded from a pair of quiet scoring games to add 15 points, including a pair of jumpers to halt Dallas' momentum after the Mavs twice got within 11 early in the fourth quarter.
New Jersey had lost 11 straight meetings since their last victory over Dallas on March 2, 2000. With the win, the Nets knocked the Mavs out of a share of the top spot in the Western Conference.
Cavaliers 96, Lakers 95
In Cleveland, Flip Murray hit a free throw with 3.4 seconds left and scored 14 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Cavaliers.
The Lakers had one last chance to win, but Kobe Bryant's 3-pointer clanked off the back of the rim as time expired. Bryant finished with 38 points. LeBron James led Cleveland with 29 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 25 points and seven rebounds.
Wizards 113, Bulls 104
In Washington, Gilbert Arenas had 29 points and seven assists, and Antonio Daniels scored a season-high 21 for the Wizards on his 31st birthday.
Caron Butler scored 25 points, and Antawn Jamison had 23, giving the Wizards four 20-point scorers in a game for the first time since Nov. 25 at Detroit. Ben Gordon led Chicago with 20 points.
Timberwolves 95, Kings 89
In Minneapolis, Kevin Garnett scored a season-high 37 points to help Minnesota snap a seven-game losing streak. Trenton Hassell had 12 points to go with tight defense for Minnesota, which nearly let Sacramento steal a victory in the closing seconds but got the last eight points from Garnett six of them on free throws.
Warriors 98, 76ers 89
In Oakland, California, Mike Dunleavy scored a season-high 28 points and Golden State sent Philadelphia to its fourth straight loss without Allen Iverson. Jason Richardson added 23 points, and Troy Murphy had 12 points and 16 rebounds for the Warriors, who won their second straight after returning from a 1-4 trip.
Celtics 103, Pacers 88
In Indianapolis, Paul Pierce scored 22 points and Boston overcame a 14-point, first-quarter deficit to sweep the three-game season series.
Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West added 16 points each for Boston. Peja Stojakovic led Indiana with 16 points, and rookie Danny Granger had 14.
Grizzlies 90, Jazz 84
In Memphis, Tennessee, Pau Gasol had 15 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, and Chucky Atkins scored 20 points for the Grizzlies. Memphis won its third straight despite shooting 39 percent, while Utah lost for the fourth time in its last five games.
Hawks 108, Magic 107, OT
In Atlanta, Zaza Pachulia scored on a tip-in with 2.4 seconds left in overtime to help the Hawks snap a four-game losing streak. Pachulia, who had 13 points and 18 rebounds, scored after Joe Johnson missed a layup. Johnson had 40 points and 11 assists for Atlanta, his third game with 40 or more points this season. Jameer Nelson led Orlando with 18 points.
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