Spurs stop Nets’ big streak

Tim Duncan scored 27 points, going 13 for 15 from the free-throw line, and the San Antonio Spurs snapped the New Jersey Nets’ 10-game winning streak with a 96-91 victory Tuesday night in San Antonio.

The Spurs withstood a late surge from the Nets and extended their home winning streak to 12.

Vince Carter, the league’s eighth-leading scorer with 25.5 points per game, scored 34 on 11-for-29 shooting. Jason Kidd had 15 points and six assists.

Tony Parker scored 18 points, shooting 8 of 12, and Manu Ginobili had 16 points for San Antonio.

The Spurs remained in control for most of the fourth quarter until Carter hit a 3-pointer with 43 seconds left to cut the lead to 87-80. Carter was fouled twice while attempting 3-pointers and made all six free throws. Scott Padgett made a 3 with 2.8 seconds to cut it to four.

Carter scored 15 points in the fourth, but the Spurs’ free-throw shooting down the stretch was too much. They made a franchise-best 20 for a quarter.

Nuggets 139, Suns 137 (3OT): In Denver, Carmelo Anthony scored 43 points, including the game-winner with 2.9 seconds left in the third overtime, sending the Nuggets past Phoenix.

Earl Boykins added a career-best 33 points for the Nuggets in their first triple-overtime game in a decade.

Raja Bell led Phoenix with 30 points, followed by Shawn Marion with 28 and Steve Nash with 26.

Clippers 90, Magic 73: Cuttino Mobley scored 18 points and Los Angeles beat visiting Orlando, sending the Magic to their fifth straight road loss.

Jameer Nelson led Orlando with 18 points – bettering his 12.3 average.

Bucks 95, Timberwolves 92: Michael Redd scored 22 points, and Milwaukee snapped a three-game losing streak by beating Minnesota in Milwaukee.

The Bucks didn’t blow a fourth-quarter lead for the first time in four games, but they came close.

Marko Jaric, who scored 21 points, nearly rallied the Timberwolves in the final minute, but he missed a 3-pointer as time expired.

Pistons 96, Hornets 86: In Oklahoma City, Richard Hamilton scored 30 points, including 20 in the second half, and Detroit rallied to beat New Orleans.

Chauncey Billups added 18 points for the Pistons, who improved their NBA-best record to 27-5.

The Hornets lost their second straight game despite the unexpected return of rookie point guard Chris Paul, who started despite a torn ligament in his right hand.

Knicks 92, Cavaliers 84: Jamal Crawford scored 26 points, 20 in the second half, and New York held Cleveland to 12 points in the fourth quarter as the Knicks beat the Cavaliers in Cleveland for their season-high fourth straight win.

Cleveland wasted another superb game from LeBron James, who finished with 36 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in 46 minutes.

James became the first NBA player to get at least 30 points, seven rebounds and five assists in seven straight games since Oscar Robertson in 1966.

Grizzlies 99, Kings 85: In Memphis, Tenn., Mike Miller had 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, recording the Grizzlies’ first triple-double since moving from Vancouver, and Memphis beat Sacramento.

Pau Gasol led Memphis with 27 points, while Hakim Warrick scored 16.

Mike Bibby had 26 points and eight assists for the Kings, who lost their second straight.

Bobcats 111, Rockets 106 (2OT): In Charlotte, N.C., Raymond Felton made a running jumper with 20 seconds to play in the second overtime, then hit a pair of free throws to seal Charlotte’s victory over Houston.

The win was costly for the Bobcats, though. Emeka Okafor returned from an eight-game absence with a sprained ankle, only to re-injure himself late in the second overtime. He had to be helped from the court after crashing hard under the basket.

Celtics 98, Hawks 94: Ricky Davis converted a three-point play with 1:40 left to give Boston its first lead since the opening quarter, and the visiting Celtics held on for a victory over Atlanta.

Paul Pierce scored 27 points and Davis added 21 to lead the Celtics, who denied Atlanta its first three-game winning streak since April 2004.

Around the league

Clippers forward Elton Brand missed the game against Orlando because of a bruised right hip. … Free-agent forward Kaniel Dickens, a former Idaho Vandal, signed a 10-day contract with the Clippers. … Center Zendon Hamilton returned to Cleveland, signing a 10-day contract with the Cavaliers. Hamilton was waived by the team last week after averaging 2.3 points and 1.0 rebounds in 11 games.