Spurs sink struggling Lakers
Brent Barry banked in a running layup with 6.7 seconds left to lift the San Antonio Spurs to a 95-94 win over the reeling Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night in San Antonio.
Kobe Bryant had a chance to win it, but missed an 18-footer off the back rim at the buzzer.
The Lakers have lost 10 of 11, including seven straight on the road. San Antonio swept the series between the teams for the second time in three years. The Lakers, who trailed by six points early in the fourth, went ahead 94-93 when Caron Butler stole the ball from Manu Ginobili and went in for a layup with 14.3 seconds left.
On San Antonio’s final possession, Barry inbounded the ball to Rasho Nesterovic near the Spurs’ free-throw line and cut past him on a give-and-go play. Barry drove and collided with Butler near the basket before putting up his winning shot.
Barry scored 20 points for the Spurs, who bounced back from Friday night’s 18-point loss in Denver. Tony Parker added 17 points and nine assists, while Robert Horry had 13 and Nesterovic 12 on 6-for-7 shooting.
Butler led Los Angeles with 27 points. Bryant, averaging 30.6 points in his last five games, finished with 15 points on 6-for-19 shooting, and Brian Grant had 10 points.
Bulls 112, Bobcats 97: At Chicago, Othella Harrington scored 22 points and Chicago won its ninth straight game.
Chicago moved a half-game behind the Washington Wizards for the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Rookie Emeka Okafor was impressive early for Charlotte and finished with 28 points and 16 rebounds.
Magic 103, Nets 102: At East Rutherford, N.J., refusing to quit despite all sorts of adversity, Orlando mounted several comebacks and defeated New Jersey to clinch the tiebreaker between the teams.
Steve Francis had 33 points, five assists and seven rebounds for Orlando, which won the season series 3-1.
Heat 111, Hornets 99: At New Orleans, Shaquille O’Neal had 34 points and 15 rebounds, Dwyane Wade scored 33 points, and the pair combined for more than a dozen dunks to help Miami defeat New Orleans.
Nuggets 103, Trail Blazers 97: At Portland, Carmelo Anthony scored 23 points and reserve Earl Boykins added 17 points, leading Denver to a win over Portland.
Curry misses third straight game
Chicago Bulls center Eddy Curry missed his third straight game and remained hospitalized for more testing on an irregular heartbeat.
Curry was having the tests at Rush University Medical Center and will probably stay in the hospital for several more days. The team said a treatment plan will be clearer by Monday when the tests are completed.
“He is comfortable and in no distress,” team physician Kathy Weber said in a statement. “He is with his family and maintains a positive disposition while the medical team does their work.”
Bulls forward Luol Deng also missed Saturday’s game against Charlotte with a sprained right wrist.
Coach Scott Skiles said Curry might be able to rejoin the team next week when the Bulls start a three-game road trip Tuesday night in Miami, but his playing status will be uncertain as the Bulls proceed with caution.
Vaughn breaks bone in foot
Jacque Vaughn of the New Jersey Nets broke a bone in his right foot early in the first quarter against Orlando.
The seven-year veteran, who has started 34 games at shooting guard, was experiencing pain in his foot before the game but decided to play. He ran off the court after fracturing the fifth metatarsal 2 minutes into the first quarter and was replaced by Travis Best. The Nets said there was no timetable for his return.