Stojakovic gives Hornets dramatic 2-OT win
Peja Stojakovic sank a 22-footer at the buzzer to give the New Orleans Hornets a 132-130 double-overtime victory over the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night in Phoenix.
The win made the Hornets 3-0 against the Suns this season, with 2 of the victories in Phoenix.
Chris Paul scored 42, 1 off his career high, but had only 2 after regulation for New Orleans. Ex-Bull Jannero Pargo scored 12 of his 22 points in the two overtimes. Stojakovic added 26 points and David West 21 and 13 rebounds for the Hornets, who were without Tyson Chandler because of the flu.
Amare Stoudemire had 26 points and a season-best 20 rebounds for Phoenix. Steve Nash had 32 points and 12 assists, but committed 10 of the Suns' 20 turnovers.
The Suns forced the first two overtimes with dramatic 3-pointers by Barbosa and Nash. They almost did it again when Barbosa made a 3 to tie it at 130-130 with 3.2 seconds left in the second OT.
But after a time out, the Hornets got the ball to the sharpshooting Stojakovic, whose smooth jumper ended it, snapping New Orleans' three-game losing streak.
Celtics 111, Clippers 100: Rajon Rondo scored a career-high 24 points to go with 8 assists and 5 rebounds, coming back from a flagrant foul by Sam Cassell that knocked him to the floor and bloodied his nose to lead host Boston to a victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Cassell, who had the ball stolen by Rondo twice in a 60-second span, came in from the side and raked his forearm across Rondo's face, knocking him to the floor. Cassell was called for a flagrant foul, and after reviewing the videotape the officials ejected him.
Pistons 100, Heat 95: Rasheed Wallace had 26 points and 10 rebounds to lead host Detroit to a win over Miami, a few hours after the Heat traded Shaquille O'Neal.
If the Heat were down emotionally about the deal, which was announced within hours of tipoff, they didn't show it. Miami led 22-18 after the first quarter and despite trailing by 11 after the third, the short-handed team did not give up.
Dwayne Wade (30 points, 12 assists) pulled the Heat within a point with just under three minutes left and he set up Ricky Davis' 3-pointer to make it 94-92 with 21.5 seconds left.
Richard Hamilton and Chauncey Billups made enough free throws on the next three possessions to seal the win for the Pistons.
Jazz 118, Nuggets 115 (OT): Kyle Korver's 27 points, including 4 free throws in the final 19 seconds of overtime, sent visiting Utah to its 10th straight win, a thriller over Denver.
Korver's 2 free throws with 19.3 seconds remaining gave the Jazz a 116-115 lead, and after a timeout, Allen Iverson (34 points) was short on a jumper from the left corner with five seconds left. Korver got the rebound, drew the foul and sank 2 more free throws.
Denver's Anthony Carter then missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Hawks 98, Lakers 95: Joe Johnson scored 28 points, including 4 free throws in the final 23 seconds, and host Atlanta beat Kobe Bryant and the Lakers.
With Atlanta leading 95-93, Bryant was called for a turnover with eight seconds left. Bryant, pressured by Johnson, lost control of the ball and was called for over-and-back when he regained possession past the midcourt line. Bryant and the Lakers argued that Johnson hit the ball.
Mavericks 107, Bucks 96: Dirk Nowitzki had 29 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists for his first career triple-double, and host Dallas stretched its home winning streak to eight games with a victory over short-handed Milwaukee.
Magic 100, Nets 84: Dwight Howard had 21 points and 13 rebounds as host Orlando avenged a 1-point loss to New Jersey last month.
Spurs 85, Wizards 77: Robert Horry got visiting San Antonio in gear after a lackluster 2½ quarters, scoring 7 of his season-high 9 points in the 17-4 spurt that gave his team the lead for good against Washington.
Pacers 103, Knicks 100: Kareem Rush scored 24 points, and visiting Indiana used a strong defensive effort in the fourth quarter to snap a seven-game losing streak by beating New York.