The Houston Rockets didn't want losing to become a habit, and Kenny Smith did something about it.
Smith, stung by a four-point performance in a 20-point loss to Phoenix on Christmas Day, scored a career-high 41 points Sunday night as the Rockets routed the Los Angeles Lakers 118-93.Smith scored 15 points in the final period as the Rockets, who won 22 of their first 23 games before double-digit losses to Denver and Phoenix, pulled away from the Lakers by outscoring them 38-27 in the fourth quarter.
Warriors 108, Blazers 106, OT
Golden State beat Portland for the first time in 10 tries behind Latrell Sprewell's season-high 33 points and rookie Chris Webber's 24.
Billy Owens' jumper gave the Warriors a 99-97 lead at the start of the extra period, and they didn't lose it again.
Spurs 99, Celtics 85
David Robinson scored a season-high 46 points as San Antonio handed Boston its seventh consecutive road loss and fifth straight defeat overall.
Robinson made 16 of 26 shots from the field and 14 of a career-high 23 attempts from the free-throw line to pull into a virtual tie with Shaquille O'Neal for the NBA scoring lead. O'Neal's exact average is 28.600 and Robinson's 28.593.
Nuggets 100, Timberwolves 97
Denver won its third consecutive game for the first time this season while handing visiting Minnesota its fifth straight defeat.
Bryant Stith's 16-foot jump shot from the lane with 25 seconds left broke a 97-97 tie - the 17th of the game - and Reggie Williams converted a free throw 20 seconds later.
Heat 109, Kings 95
Miami beat Sacramento for its fifth straight victory, and the Heat outrebounded the opposition and held an opponent under 100 points for the sixth straight game.
Reserve guard Brian Shaw scored a season-high 20 points and Steve Smith had 23 for the Heat.
Nets 91, Hawks 87
New Jersey extended its home winning streak to four despite the absence of Derrick Coleman.
Armon Gilliam, starting because of Coleman's stomach virus, had 18 points and 13 rebounds for the Nets. Dominique Wilkins scored 23 points and Kevin Willis had 20 points and 10 rebounds for Atlanta, which lost its second straight game after winning 16 of 17.
Cavaliers 107, Pacers 103, OT
Mark Price had 16 assists and scored seven of his 21 points in overtime, including the go-ahead 18-footer with 28 seconds left in Cleveland's 10th consecutive victory over Indiana.