Atlanta ends nine game losing streak with win over NBA champions

(The Sports Xchange) – Chandler Parsons posted 31 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists as the Rockets fended off Portland 126-113  in a Western Conference shootout Monday night.

Rockets center Dwight Howard added 24 points and 12 rebounds while James Harden totaled 22 points on a big offensive night for Houston (28-15), who shot 52.3 percent from the floor, including 16 of 33 three-pointers.

Portland forward LaMarcus Aldridge recorded 27 points and 20 rebounds for the Trail Blazers (31-10).

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Hawks 121, Heat 114

Paul Millsap scored 26 points and helped the Hawks end a nine-game losing streak to the Heat.

The Hawks (21-19) trailed 107-104 midway through the fourth quarter but went on a quick 10-1 run to regain full control.

LeBron James scored 30 for Miami (29-12), who have lost four of their last six games.

Dwyane Wade missed his third straight contest, resting his ailing knee, while Chris Bosh added 21 for the two-time defending NBA champions.

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Pelicans 95, Grizzlies 92

The New Orleans Pelicans broke their eight-game losing skid and halted the Memphis Grizzlies’ five-game winning streak.

Anthony Davis led the Pelicans (16-24) with 27 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks while converting a jumper that put his team up 95-91 with 35 seconds left.

Memphis (20-20) power forward Zach Randolph had 23 points and a season-high 20 rebounds.

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Nets 103, Knicks 80

The Brooklyn Nets took advantage of a flat New York Knicks squad in a blowout victory.

Brooklyn (17-22) were led by forward Joe Johnson’s 25 points.

The Knicks (15-26) were led by forward Carmelo Anthony’s 26 points, but he received next to nothing from his supporting cast.

New York scored just 16 points in the first quarter and never fully recovered.

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Mavericks 102, Cavaliers 97

Monta Ellis scored a team-high 22 points and had eight assists in the Dallas Mavericks’ victory over the Cavaliers.

Ellis missed two free throws with 3.4 seconds left and Dallas (25-18) clinging to a 100-97 lead, but Cleveland’s Jarrett Jack could not get the ball inbounds and was called for a critical five-second violation.

Kyrie Irving had a game-high 26 points and nine assists for the Cavs (15-26).

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Clippers 112, Pistons 103

Reserve guard Jamal Crawford had 26 points and power forward Blake Griffin supplied 25 to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a victory over the Detroit Pistons.

J.J. Redick added 20 points and six assists for the Clippers (29-14), who have won six of their last seven games.

Rodney Stuckey had a season-high 29 points and forward Josh Smith contributed 24 but the Pistons (17-24) lost for the seventh time in its last eight home games.

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Bulls 102, Lakers 100 (Overtime)

Taj Gibson finished a lay-up off an inbounds pass as time expired and the Chicago Bulls edged the Los Angeles Lakers.

Lakers guard Nick Young had tied the score on a pull-up jumper with six seconds left. He finished with 31 points to lead Los Angeles (16-25).

DJ Augustin had 27 points and center Joakim Noah finished with 17 points, 21 rebounds and a team-high six assists for the Bulls (20-20).

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Wizards 107, 76ers 99

Bradley Beal had 22 points and nine rebounds and matched his career high with eight assists as the Washington Wizards defeated the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Wizards (20-20) led comfortably throughout the day game.

Michael Carter-Williams scored 31 points for the 76ers (13-28), who have lost three straight and seven of eight games.

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Bocats 100, Raptors 95

Ramon Sessions scored 23 points, and center Al Jefferson had 22 points and 19 rebounds as the Charlotte Bobcats beat Toronto.

The Bobcats (18-25) led by as many as 30 points in the third quarter and held on to top the Raptors (20-20) for the seventh straight time.

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Pacers 102, Warriors 94

Guards Lance Stephenson and George Hill hit three-pointers in the final 3:02 to thwart a Golden State rally as the Indiana Pacers won their fifth consecutive game.

All five Pacers starters scored in double figures, led by small forward Paul George with 23, as Indiana (33-7) extended its league-leading record.

The Warriors trailed just 91-87 before Stephenson drilled a three-pointer to push the Indiana lead to seven with 3:02 to play.

Stephen Curry had 24 points to lead the Warriors (26-17).