Hornets win in overtime to snap Magic streak
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The host New Orleans Hornets held off Orlando 92-89 in overtime yesterday, snapping the Magic's nine-game NBA winning streak.
Marcus Thornton capped a 22-point performance with a crucial jumper and two free throws in the final minute of the extra period as the Hornets took the lead for good.
Emeka Okafor had 18 points and 14 rebounds for New Orleans.
Orlando's Dwight Howard had 29 points and 20 rebounds, but missed a pair of free throws that could have given his side a one-point lead with 11 seconds to go.
The Magic erased a seven-point deficit in the final minute of regulation to force overtime.
Spurs 91, Bucks 84
In Milwaukee, reserve Matt Bonner scored all 17 of his points in the second half to lift San Antonio over Milwaukee and to its fourth straight win.
Trailing by two, Bonner sparked an 11-2 run after hitting two 3-pointers and a floater that gave San Antonio a 79-72 lead with 8:32 left. When Milwaukee cut it to three late, Bonner answered with a 15-footer with 57 seconds to play that halted the Bucks' rally.
Manu Ginobili added 23 as the Spurs improved the NBA's best record to 33-6 despite a pace more fitting to the grinding Bucks, who came in as the worst shooting and lowest scoring team in the league.
John Salmons scored 17 to lead Milwaukee.
Thunder 118, Rockets 112
In Houston, Oklahoma City won the franchise's first game in Houston in 12 attempts.
Kevin Durant scored 30 points and Russell Westbrook added 23 points and 13 assists for the Thunder. The franchise won in Houston for the first time since 2004-05 when it was still the Seattle SuperSonics.
Luis Scola scored 31 points, but none in the fourth quarter, for Houston. The Rockets again played without leading scorer Kevin Martin and backup center Brad Miller due to injury.
Houston scored a season-high 70 points in the paint, but went 5 for 18 from 3-point range.
Pacers 102, Mavericks 89
In Indianapolis, Indiana's Brandon Rush scored eight of his 20 points in the fourth quarter to help secure a win that lifted the Pacers clear of Dallas atop the Southeast Division.
Danny Granger and Darren Collison both scored 17 points for Indiana.
Jason Terry scored 18 points for the Mavericks in a disappointing return for former Pacers coach Rick Carlisle.
Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki missed his eighth straight game with a knee sprain.
Bobcats 96, Bulls 91
In Charlotte, D.J. Augustin had 22 points and 12 assists, outplaying Derrick Rose in Charlotte's victory over Chicago.
The Bulls, off to their best start since their last title under Michael Jordan in 1998, couldn't keep it going with Jordan sitting courtside.
The Bobcats owner stood and clapped as the final seconds ticked down in Charlotte's fourth straight win. Ex-Bull Tyrus Thomas added 17 points and 13 rebounds as the Bobcats moved to 6-2 under interim coach Paul Silas.
Carlos Boozer had 23 points and 14 rebounds for Chicago.
Hawks 104, Raptors 101
In Toronto, Mike Bibby made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 8.2 seconds left to give Atlanta victory over Toronto and a fifth straight win.
Jamal Crawford scored a season-high 36 points and Joe Johnson scored 26 points for the Hawks.
Leandro Barbosa had a season-best 26 points for the Raptors, who also got 26 from Andrea Bargnani.
Celtics 119, Kings 95
In Boston, Paul Pierce scored 25 points to help Boston beat Sacramento.
Pierce scored 15 in the first quarter as Boston got off to a quick start while bouncing back from a surprising home loss to Houston on Monday.
Rajon Rondo had 10 points and 13 assists for the Celtics.
Reserve Carl Landry scored 17 points for Sacramento, which has lost 12 consecutive road games.
Grizzlies 107, Pistons 99
In Auburn Hills, Michigan, Zach Randolph had 34 points and 17 rebounds for Memphis in the win over Detroit.
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