CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Gerald Wallace had 31 points and 14 rebounds while outplaying LeBron James, and the Cleveland Cavaliers looked disjointed in Shaquille O'Neal's return from injury in a 94-87 loss to the Charlotte Bobcats on Friday night.
The surprising Bobcats won their third straight game following a seven-game losing streak behind Wallace, who beat James in numerous 1-on-1 matchups in the post. Wallace topped 30 points for the second straight game, while James scored 25.
O'Neal recovered after missing five of his first seven shots to finish with 11 points and eight rebounds. He had missed the past six games with a strained left shoulder, and Cleveland fell to 6-4 when he plays and 5-1 when he's out.
WIZARDS 94, HEAT 84: At Miami, Antawn Jamison scored 24 points, Nick Young added 22 and Washington beat Miami for the first time in seven tries, 94-84. Jamison, playing for the first time this season against the Heat after missing the first two meetings because of a shoulder injury, scored his 16,000th career point. Dwyane Wade had 18 points while struggling for Miami.
HAWKS 100, 76ERS 86: At Philadelphia, Jamal Crawford scored 11 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, Mike Bibby added 21 and Atlanta snapped a two-game losing streak with a 100-86 victory over Philadelphia. Josh Smith scored 20 and Al Horford had 15 for the Hawks, who responded with a road win one night after falling 93-76 to the Orlando Magic. Thaddeus Young scored 22 points, Andre Iguodala added 16.
CELTICS 116, RAPTORS 103: At Boston, Ray Allen scored 20 points, Paul Pierce and Kendrick Perkins had 18 apiece, and the Boston beat Toronto 116-103. Rajon Rondo had 12 points and 11 assists as the Celtics won three in a row for the first time since opening the season with six straight victories. Rasheed Wallace scored 15 points as a reserve, hitting three of his first four 3-point attempts. Chris Bosh had 20 points and 13 rebounds, Hedo Turkoglu also scored 20 points.
CLIPPERS 104, PISTONS 96: At Auburn Hills, Mich., Chris Kaman scored 26 points and Baron Davis added 25 to help Los Angeles Clippers top Detroit. Al Thornton scored 12 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter, including consecutive baskets midway through the period to give the Clippers the lead for good. The victory ended a 13-game losing streak against the Pistons.
MAVERICKS 113, PACERS 92: At Indianapolis, Dirk Nowitzki scored 31 points to lead Dallas over Indiana. Nowitzki, who entered the night sixth in the NBA at 26.9 points per game, made 10 of 14 field goals and 11 of 13 free throws. Jason Terry scored 17 and Kris Humphries added 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Mavericks (12-4), winners of five straight road games. Danny Granger finished with 20 points for the Pacers (6-8).
SPURS 92, ROCKETS 84: At Houston, Tim Duncan and Antonio McDyess recorded double-doubles, Tony Parker had 19 points and seven assists, and San Antonio Spurs earned its first road win of the season. Duncan had 21 points and 12 rebounds, and McDyess added 15 points and 14 boards as the Spurs won for the first time in five games away from home. Luis Scola had 18 points and 12 rebounds, and Trevor Ariza added 17 points and a season-high 11 rebounds for Houston.
NUGGETS 128, KNICKS 125: At Denver, Carmelo Anthony scored a career-high 50 points as the Nuggets beat the Knicks for their 17th straight regular-season home win. Al Harrington had 41 points — one shy of his career high — for the Knicks, who lost their fourth straight. David Lee added 23 points and 11 rebounds. Anthony scored 13 points in the third quarter, helping the Nuggets take a 92-87 lead into the final period. The Knicks remained within striking distance, tying it at 100 with 7:56 left when Chris Andersen was called for goaltending.
SUNS 120, TIMBERWOLVES 95: At Minneapolis, Jason Richardson scored 22 points to help Phoenix send Minnesota to its 15th straight loss. Steve Nash had nine points and 11 assists and Grant Hill had 17 points and five assists for the Suns, who have the best record in the NBA at 13-3. Ramon Sessions had 23 points and Jonny Flynn had 18 points and six assists for the Timberwolves.
THUNDER 108, BUCKS 90: At Oklahoma City, Kevin Durant had 33 points and 12 rebounds, Russell Westbrook outplayed rookie Brandon Jennings, and Oklahoma City beat Milwaukee. Westbrook scored nine of his 20 points during a 17-0 run. He also helped hold Jennings to 3-of-11 shooting and 12 points, 11.4 below his average. Before a capacity crowd at the Ford Center and an ESPN audience, the Thunder began a season-high, five-game homestand with their sixth win in nine games.
KINGS 109, NETS 96: At Sacramento, Calif., New Jersey dropped its 16th straight game to open the season, moving within one of matching the worst start in NBA history. Rookie Tyreke Evans had 21 points and eight rebounds, and Beno Udrih also scored 21 for Sacramento, which never trailed on its way to winning back-to-back games following a four-game losing streak.
GRIZZLIES 106, TRAIL BLAZERS 96: At Portland, Ore., Zach Randolph scored 21 points and Marc Gasol and O.J. Mayo added 19 each and Memphis withstood a second-half rally.
Memphis led by 29 points during the first half on the way to winning for the fifth time in seven games. Gasol added 15 rebounds while Jamaal Tinsley scored 16 points for the Grizzlies. Brandon Roy had 26 points, nine assists and eight rebounds.