Pacers victors despite losses

Jamaal Tinsley had a career-high 29 points and James Jones had a career-best 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead the suspension-weakened Indiana Pacers to a 106-96 win over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night at Indianapolis.

It was the Pacers’ second game without their three stars – Ron Artest, Stephen Jackson and Jermaine O’Neal – and first since the team learned of the harsh punishment handed down by the NBA on Sunday. Several Pacers wore Jackson’s and O’Neal’s arm bands.

Artest was banned for the season, Jackson for 30 games and O’Neal for 25 for fighting with fans in Friday night’s game against the Detroit Pistons.

Fred Jones had 16 points and 10 rebounds and the Pacers outrebounded Boston 45-33 and made 31 of 33 free throws.

Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 20 points, but shot just 6 of 14 from the field.

Wizards 102, Raptors 86: At Washington, the Wizards won their third straight game under coach Eddie Jordan for the first time, dominating the boards and surviving another late Toronto rally.

Antawn Jamison scored 28 points and Gilbert Arenas had 26. But it was the 64-47 rebounding advantage, including 26-13 on the offensive boards, that allowed Washington to win three in a row for the first time since March 2003.

Vince Carter, away from the booing home fans in Toronto, led the Raptors with 25 points.

Bobcats 91, Pistons 89: At Charlotte, N.C., Emeka Okafor had the best game of his young rookie season with 22 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Bobcats over Detroit.

The Bobcats won for the second time this season, and became the first expansion team to beat the reigning NBA champion since Portland and Buffalo defeated the New York Knicks during the 1970-71 season.

Knicks 104, Hawks 88: At New York, Nazr Mohammed had another strong game against the team that traded him last season, scoring 18 points and grabbing 14 rebounds to lead New York past Atlanta.

Stephon Marbury had 11 assists – all in the first half – and Jamal Crawford scored 17 as New York improved to .500 and moved past Boston and Toronto into sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division.

Trail Blazers 99, Heat 87: At Miami, Zach Randolph had 24 points and Derek Anderson added 19, helping Portland pull away in the second half for a win over Miami.

Shaquille O’Neal had 17 points and 13 rebounds – his seventh double-double in the last eight games for Miami, which shot 37.5 percent in the second half and fell to 1-4 against the Western Conference.

Nuggets 90, Nets 88: At Denver, Kenyon Martin had 22 points and 12 rebounds against his former team, and Earl Boykins hit a runner with 21 seconds left to lift Denver over New Jersey for its fourth straight win.

Richard Jefferson, who led New Jersey with 26 points, got the Nets within a point by hitting 1 of 2 free throws with 37 seconds left.

But Boykins banked in a shot to make it 90-87.

Kings 102, Rockets 96: At Sacramento, Calif., Peja Stojakovic scored 22 points and Bobby Jackson got 10 of his 18 in the fourth quarter to help the Kings complete a perfect five-game homestand with a victory over Houston.

Brad Miller scored 13 points and played gritty last-minute defense on Yao Ming in the Kings’ sixth straight victory overall.

Houston lost despite making 52 percent of its shots and getting 29 points and nine rebounds from Yao.

Lakers 100, Bucks 96: Kobe Bryant scored 30 points and the Lakers held off Milwaukee in the final minute for the victory.

Lamar Odom added 17 points and Chris Mihm 12 for Los Angeles.

Desmond Mason scored 26 points off the bench and reserve Mike James added 18 points and 11 assists for the Bucks, who lost their fifth in a row overall and seventh straight against the Lakers since November 2001.

Warriors 115, Hornets 109, 3OT: Speedy Claxton scored 21 points, including five free throws in the final 15 seconds of the third overtime, to help Golden State beat New Orleans in Oakland, Calif. Jason Richardson had 26 points for the Warriors.