(The Sports Xchange) – Highlights of Wednesday’s National Basketball Association games.
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Knicks 92, Pacers 86
The New York Knicks welcomed new president Phil Jackson by running their winning streak to seven games with a rousing victory over the Indiana Pacers.
Jackson, who was named to the position on Tuesday, received a standing ovation from the Garden crowd during the game as Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks (28-40) on the court with 34 points and forward Amar’e Stoudemire added 21.
Lance Stephenson had 21 points for the Pacers (50-18), who remained three games ahead of Miami for the lead in the Eastern Conference.
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Celtics 101, Heat 96
The Boston Celtics took advantage of LeBron James’ absence caused by back spasms by beating Miami 101-96 to end a five-game losing streak.
The victory gave Boston (23-46) a 2-1 win in the season series after the teams split two games in Miami.
Boston’s Avery Bradley scored 23 points, while Dwyane Wade led the Heat (46-20) with 17 points, but he shot just 2-for-9 from the floor in the second half.
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Timberwolves 123, Mavericks 122 (overtime)
Desperate to remain relevant in the Western Conference playoff hunt, the Minnesota Timberwolves hung on for dear life in an overtime victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
Kevin Love finished with a game-high 35 points and hit the game-winner with 17.1 seconds left, stepping between two defenders and sinking a one-handed wrister.
Dirk Nowitzki had 27 for Dallas.
The Timberwolves (34-32) are 5 1/2 games behind the Mavericks and the Memphis Grizzlies, who are tied for the final two playoff spots in the Western Conference.
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Grizzlies 96, Jazz 86
Zach Randolph scored 21 points and Marc Gasol added 20 to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to victory over the Utah Jazz.
The Grizzlies (40-27) earned their eighth consecutive home win and their fifth straight victory over Utah at FedExForum.
The Jazz (22-47) lost their sixth straight and fell to 8-28 on the road.
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Nuggets 118, Pistons 109
Aaron Brooks scored a season-high 27 points and dished out a career-high 17 assists, and the Denver Nuggets overcame the absence of two starters to beat the struggling Detroit Pistons.
The game featured two ailing teams. Detroit (25-42) center Andre Drummond was out with a neck injury while the Nuggets were missing two of their best players.
Guard Ty Lawson (sinus infection) and forward Wilson Chandler (hip) were out, leaving Denver (31-37) looking very much like a roster that lost eight of nine last month.
