Send my password Sign up now - Play College or Pro Pick 'Em!
Athlon SportsGet Your Magazines Here
Games played Dec. 18:

Final Score: Toronto 118, New Jersey 95

TORONTO - Amir Johnson scored a game-high 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds, as the Toronto Raptors routed the New Jersey Nets, 118-95, in an Atlantic Division matchup at Air Canada Centre. Chris Bosh finished with 16 points and eight boards for Toronto, which had seven players score in double-figures. DeMar DeRozan and Andrea Bargnani each netted 16 points for the Raptors, who recovered from a loss at Orlando on Wednesday and won for only the second time in the last six games. Chris Douglas-Roberts ended with 16 points and Brook Lopez had 14 points and eight rebounds for the Nets, who have dropped six straight after claiming only their second win of the season, a victory at Chicago on December 8.

Final Score: Atlanta 96, Utah 83
ATLANTA - Josh Smith ended with 16 points, eight rebounds, five assists, five steals and two blocks, as the Atlanta Hawks earned a 96-83 win over the Utah Jazz at Philips Arena. Marvin Williams ended with 15 points, while Joe Johnson and Al Horford each chipped in 12 for Atlanta, which has won six straight. The Hawks improved to 12-2 at home this season and are 15-4 since November 7. Andrei Kirilenko had a team-best 13 points to go with six rebounds and six assists for the Jazz, who were unable to feed off a 108-92 win over New Jersey on Wednesday.

Final Score: Philadelphia 98, Boston 97
BOSTON - Elton Brand's tip-in of a Marreese Speights miss with 7.7 seconds left in regulation proved to be the difference, as the Philadelphia 76ers ended the Celtics' 11-game winning streak with a thrilling 98-97 decision at TD Garden. Brand finished with a game-high 23 points with eight rebounds, while fellow reserve Speights added 17 and 10 for the Sixers, who have won two of three following a debilitating 12-game skid. Andre Iguodala and Willie Green chipped in 18 and 16 points, respectively, for the victors. Kevin Garnett made all 11 of his free throw attempts, ending with 21 points and 10 boards in defeat, Boston's first since November 20 against Orlando. Rajon Rondo went for 13 points and 10 assists, while Ray Allen had 17 points in the loss.

Final Score: Cleveland 85, Milwaukee 82
CLEVELAND - LeBron James was two assists shy of a triple- double, ending with 26 points, 10 rebounds and eight helpers, as Cleveland held on to beat Milwaukee, 85-82. Mo Williams added 17 points and Delonte West 12 for the Cavaliers, winners of five straight. Ersan Ilyasova and Brandon Jennings each had 18 points to pace the Bucks, who were coming off a heart-breaking overtime loss to the Lakers on Wednesday. Jennings also had eight assists but hit just 5-of-21 from the floor and missed a potential game- tying three-pointer in the waning seconds.

Final Score: Memphis 107, Indiana 94
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Zach Randolph poured in a game-high 26 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, as the Memphis Grizzlies handled the Indiana Pacers, 107-94, at FedExForum. O.J. Mayo added 20 points and dished out six assists for the Grizzlies, who had lost three of four coming in. Mike Conley made a career-high five three-pointers on his way to 19 points while dishing out eight assists. Rudy Gay had 18 points and four steals, while Marc Gasol finished with 17 points, 14 rebounds and five assists for the victors. Mike Dunleavy and T.J. Ford both chipped in 16 points for the Pacers, who had won three of four.

Final Score: Minnesota 112, Sacramento 96
MINNEAPOLIS - Kevin Love poured in 20 points, pulled down 16 rebounds, and dished out five assists, as the Minnesota Timberwolves took down the Sacramento Kings, 112-96, at Target Center. Corey Brewer added 20 points and five rebounds for the Timberwolves, who have won two of their last three games. Al Jefferson ended with 16 points and nine rebounds while Damien Wilkins finished with 16 and five for Minnesota, which shot 54.7 percent from the floor. Omri Casspi chipped in 21 points for the Kings, who have dropped eight straight on the road and are a miserable 1-11 as the visitor on the year. Jason Thompson tallied 18 points and nine rebounds while Beno Udrih added 18 points off the bench for Sacramento.

Final Score: New Orleans 98, Denver 92
NEW ORLEANS - Chris Paul fell a rebound shy of a huge triple-double, as he ended with 30 points, 19 assists and nine boards to lead the New Orleans Hornets to a 98-92 victory over the Denver Nuggets. Paul recorded a season-high in assists and rebounds for the Hornets, who have won two in a row. Peja Stojakovic finished with 24 points, while Emeka Okafor had 12 rebounds to go with nine points in the victory. J.R. Smith had 25 points to pace Denver, which played without Chauncey Billups, who was out with a strained groin. Carmelo Anthony shot 5-of-16 and finished 17 points, snapping his string of five games with at least 30. Nene had 15 points and 10 boards as the Nuggets had their three-game win streak broken.

Final Score: New York 95, LA Clippers 91
NEW YORK - David Lee finished with a game-high 25 points and had the go-ahead tip-in in the final minute, as the New York Knicks scored the game's final five points to take a 95-91 victory over the Clippers. Lee also had 11 rebounds for the Knicks, who snapped a two-game slide overall and ended a four-game losing streak against the Clippers. Chris Duhon fell two boards shy of a triple-double, ending with 17 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in the win. Chris Kaman had 20 points and nine rebounds for the Clippers, who had a two-game win streak broken. Baron Davis added 19 points and Al Thornton 17 in the setback.

Final Score: Oklahoma City 109, Detroit 98
OKLAHOMA CITY - Kevin Durant had a team-high 27 points to go along with six rebounds and Jeff Green finished with 19 points, as the Oklahoma City Thunder claimed a 109-98 win over the Detroit Pistons at the Ford Center. James Harden ended with 14 points and eight assists, while Russell Westbrook chipped in 14 points and five assists for the Thunder, who regrouped from a 100-86 loss to Dallas on Wednesday and snapped a three-game slide in the process. Serge Ibaka had 12 points and five rebounds off the bench. Rodney Stuckey led all scorers with 31 points and Charlie Villanueva had 16 points and five boards for Detroit, which has dropped three in a row after winning the previous five contests.

Final Score: Houston 116, Dallas 108 (OT)
DALLAS - Kyle Lowry poured in a career-high 26 points while dishing out 10 assists and grabbing six rebounds, as the Houston Rockets needed overtime to beat the Dallas Mavericks, 116-108, in a feisty affair at American Airlines Center. Things got heated when Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki drove to the lane with about 9 1/2 minutes left in the second quarter. Nowitzki missed the short jumper but was fouled by Houston forward Carl Landry during a collision in which Landry broke three teeth as he was hit in the mouth by Nowitzki's right elbow. Landry was taken to the hospital and Nowitzki got three stitches to close a cut on his elbow. Aaron Brooks added 25 points and six assists for the Rockets, who were coming off a loss at Denver on Wednesday. Luis Scola chipped in 19 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists for the victors. Jose Barea had 23 points for the Mavericks, who had a five-game win streak snapped.

Final Score: Washington 118, Golden State 109
OAKLAND, Calif. - Gilbert Arenas finished with season highs of 45 points and 13 assists, as the Washington Wizards snapped a six-game slide with a 118-109 victory over the Golden State Warriors. Four Wizards had double- doubles, as Caron Butler had 28 points and 10 rebounds, while Brendan Haywood ended with 15 points and 12 boards. Antawn Jamison, who played 36- plus minutes after suffering a stinger in his left shoulder, ended with 10 points and 10 boards in the victory. On the other hand, the Warriors have now lost five in a row, as well as nine of 10 overall. Monta Ellis had 30 points to pace Golden State, which also got career highs of 27 points and eight boards from rookie Stephen Curry.

Powered by The Sports Network




You must have an account to post comments. Go ahead and register now. It's completely free and takes 5 seconds.


*
- Big Ten: Michigan can boost league's profile
The Big Ten has competitive teams and even some elite squads at the top. Still, the knock ... more

- Jeremiah Masoli: From fifth string to Heisman?
He began 2008 preseason camp on Oregon's fifth string, but Jeremiah Masoli, a powerful dua... more

- MLB: 2010 Baseball Previews
Opening Day is quickly approaching so prepare yourself for the season with Athlon's team p... more

- CBB: East Region Preview
The East Region puts the spotlight on Kentucky's John Wall dance, Ivy League research and ... more

- NBA Power Rankings
Winners of six straight, the Milwaukee Bucks are one of the hottest teams in the NBA. Led ... more