Francis, Hill rally Magic over Lakers
Steve Francis scored a season-high 32 points, and Grant Hill added 27 points and 12 rebounds to rally the Orlando Magic to a 122-113 comeback victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night in Orlando, Fla.
Orlando was behind 39-21 early in the second quarter but used an impressive performance from Francis and another encouraging outing from Hill to get back in the game.
Kobe Bryant led the Lakers in scoring for the seventh consecutive game, finishing with a season-high 41 points on 14-of-31 shooting. He was 11 of 12 from the free-throw line.
76ers 106, Pacers 104 (OT): At Philadelphia, Allen Iverson sank a 14-footer as time expired in overtime and scored 15 points to lead Philadelphia over Indiana. Kyle Korver made seven 3-pointers and scored 23 points, Marc Jackson had 21 points and 10 rebounds, and John Salmons and Corliss Williamson each scored 15 points for the Sixers. Ron Artest was back in the starting lineup for Indiana after being benched for two games for asking for time off because of his busy schedule.
Celtics 91, Bobcats 74: At Boston, Gary Payton had 10 points and Ricky Davis added six in the third quarter as Boston turned a tight game into a runaway over Charlotte. Davis scored 19 points, Payton finished with 15 and second-year point guard Marcus Banks added 13. Eddie House finished with 15 points for the Bobcats.
Knicks 110, Clippers 96: At New York, Stephon Marbury had 21 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds before sitting out the fourth quarter, getting a little extra rest before beginning a tough road trip as New York defeated Los Angeles. Jamal Crawford added 19 points, Tim Thomas had 15, Michael Sweetney 14 and Jerome Williams 12 for the Knicks. Corey Maggette shot 10 for 17 and scored 29 points for the Clippers
Grizzlies 96, Warriors 67: At Memphis, Tenn., Pau Gasol had 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Memphis beat winless Golden State. The Warriors had their poor shooting to blame, making only 25 of 91 attempts (27.5 percent). Troy Murphy scored 15 points to lead the Warriors.
Spurs 93, Heat 84: At San Antonio, Manu Ginobili scored 29 points, and San Antonio held longtime nemesis Shaquille O’Neal scoreless down the stretch to beat Miami. O’Neal, who had 23 rebounds, scored 12 of his 23 points in the third quarter before getting into foul trouble. Tony Parker finished with 18 points for the Spurs, and Tim Duncan added 17 points and 13 rebounds.
Hawks 96, Hornets 95: At New Orleans, Antoine Walker scored 27 points, and Atlanta won its first game of the season by defeating winless New Orleans. Kenny Anderson and Al Harrington each added 17 to help Atlanta hand Byron Scott his fifth straight loss as the Hornets coach. Baron Davis led New Orleans with 18 points.
Robinson fails physical
Free-agent forward Eddie Robinson failed a physical with the New York Knicks, who were set to sign him to a $1.3 million contract for the remainder of this season.
Robinson, who has a bone growth disorder in his toe, has decided to undergo surgery that will sideline him from six weeks to three months.
Curry wants to stay a Bull
Eddy Curry might want to think twice before venting to his agents again.
Curry said he wants to stay with his hometown Chicago Bulls, blaming his agents for turning his private complaints into a public demand for a trade and adding chaos to a team that already has more than enough.
“I’m not trying to go nowhere,” Curry said after the Bulls’ practice. “There’s no way I want to leave Chicago, under no circumstances. Right now, I’m just trying to get all this past me and move forward.”