Webber loses return trip to Sacramento
Chris Webber headed to the visitors’ locker room before the final seconds ticked off the clock. He got nothing but love in his return to Sacramento, but he couldn’t get a win.
Webber had 20 points and 10 rebounds in his first game back at Arco Arena since the Kings traded him last month, but Cuttino Mobley scored 30 points in the Kings’ 118-109 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers Monday night.
Webber’s homecoming was more bitter than sweet. The sellout crowd showered him with constant cheers, including a lengthy standing ovation during pregame introductions – but the Kings controlled most of the second half with the up-tempo offense Webber so loved to play.
Mobley hit six 3-pointers in his best game since joining the Kings, and fellow newcomer Kenny Thomas had 20 points and 15 rebounds against his former team.
Mavericks 95, Pistons 88: Josh Howard scored 24 points and Dirk Nowitzki added 22 as Dallas got a road win against Detroit.
The Mavericks have won six of seven, while the defending champions lost for the fourth time in five games.
Reserve Keith Van Horn added 17 points for Dallas, while Chauncey Billups led the Pistons with 26.
Suns 123, Nuggets 114: Joe Johnson had eight points and Steve Nash five during a fourth-quarter run that carried Phoenix past visiting Denver.
Shawn Marion had 30 points and 14 rebounds, and Nash finished with 23 points and 12 assists, helping offset the absence of fellow All-Star Amare Stoudemire, who missed his first game this season, resting a swollen left ankle.
Cavaliers 109, Hornets 108 (OT): LeBron James scored 44 points, igniting Cleveland’s comeback from a 17-point, fourth-quarter deficit in an overtime win in New Orleans.
Drew Gooden, who hadn’t scored since the first quarter, clinched the victory with a three-point play after he rebounded James’ miss and scored as he was fouled with 6.4 seconds left in the extra period.
Dan Dickau’s driving floater that could have won the game for New Orleans in the final seconds bounced wide off the glass.
Rockets 99, Jazz 85: Tracy McGrady scored 44 points, and Mike James had 14 of his 16 in the second half to lead Houston past Utah in Salt Lake City.
McGrady made 14 of his first 17 shots and finished 15 for 21.
Bulls 94, Grizzlies 86: Eddy Curry scored 25 points and Chicago nearly blew an 18-point fourth quarter lead before holding on to beat visiting Memphis.
Ben Gordon added 17 points for the Bulls, while Tyson Chandler had 14 rebounds and 13 points.
Pacers 90, Bucks 76: Reggie Miller scored 12 of his 22 points in the third quarter to lead Indiana to a win in Milwaukee.
Miller made 5 of 7 3-pointers and sat out the entire fourth quarter as the Pacers held a comfortable lead.
Magic 109, Hawks 102: Steve Francis had 30 points, 10 assists and six rebounds, and Grant Hill and Dwight Howard each had a double-double to lead Orlando to a win over visiting Atlanta.
Nets 95, Bobcats 91: Vince Carter scored 39 points as New Jersey hung on to win in Charlotte, snapping a two-game losing streak.
Wizards 114, Trail Blazers 106: Gilbert Arenas scored 28 points and Larry Hughes added 25 to lead Washington to a win in Portland.
Warriors 108, Knicks 100: Baron Davis had 33 points and nine assists and Troy Murphy added 19 points and 19 rebounds as Golden State beat visiting New York.
Payton day-to-day
Celtics point guard Gary Payton is listed as day to day after an MRI showed no further damage to his ailing back.
A 16-year NBA veteran, Payton has experienced back problems late in his career, and has sat out some practices in the last two weeks. He complained of increased tightness in his lower back after Friday’s home game against Chicago.