Hornets top Bobcats
Peja Stojakovic scored a career-high 42 points and directed a decisive fourth-quarter run as the New Orleans Hornets broke a three-game losing streak with a 94-85 victory Tuesday night over the Charlotte Bobcats in Oklahoma City.
Former Gonzaga star Adam Morrison, the No. 3 overall pick in the NBA draft, matched his career high with 21 points for Charlotte, and reserve Sean May scored 17.
Morrison finished 9 of 18 from the field with seven rebounds.
Stojakovic showed exactly why the Hornets wanted him in the off-season, scoring 11 points in a 13-4 fourth-quarter surge and grabbing three loose balls down the stretch.
Emeka Okafor had 25 points, 16 rebounds and a career-high seven blocks to lead Charlotte.
Spurs 92, Rockets 84: At Houston, Tim Duncan had 19 points and 15 rebounds as San Antonio rallied from 19 points down in the third quarter to beat the Rockets.
Manu Ginobili scored 13 of his 19 points in the second half as the Spurs beat the Rockets for the seventh straight time.
Mavericks 111, Bulls 99: At Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki scored 31 points and Erick Dampier had season highs of 14 points and 13 rebounds, helping the Mavericks beat Chicago for their first home victory of the season.
Kirk Hinrich scored 25 points and Luol Deng added 24 for Chicago, which was opening a seven-game road trip and breaking in a new starting lineup.
Nuggets 112, Heat 105: At Miami, Carmelo Anthony scored 33 points and Denver twice converted four-point plays to beat the Heat.
Anthony lost his scoring duel with fellow 2003 draft pick Dwyane Wade, who had 37 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds. But the Nuggets reached .500 by winning their third in a row after a 0-3 start.
Timberwolves 101, Trail Blazers 89: At Minneapolis, Ricky Davis broke out of a shooting slump with 27 points to help the Timberwolves defeat Portland and snap a four-game losing streak.
Zach Randolph had 26 points and nine rebounds for Portland.
Bucks 103, Hawks 101: At Atlanta, Michael Redd converted a three-point play with 27 seconds remaining and finished with 30 points, and Milwaukee beat the Hawks to snap a four-game losing streak.
In the final 3:11, the lead changed hands seven times. Tyronn Lue’s 3-pointer with 40 seconds remaining put the Hawks ahead 101-99, but Redd drove the right side of the lane and banked in a shot as Joe Johnson fouled him nearly 13 seconds later.
Jazz 112, Clippers 90: At Salt Lake City, Carlos Boozer had 16 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists, and Utah got off to its best start in eight years with a win over Los Angeles.
The Jazz held the Clippers without a field goal for 10 minutes, 27 seconds of the second half and beat the Clippers for the 33rd time in the last 34 meetings in Utah.
Warriors 110, Raptors 99: At Oakland, Calif., Baron Davis had 22 points and 12 assists while seizing control of the fourth quarter Golden State’s comeback victory over Toronto.
Davis scored 11 points in the fourth while spurring the Warriors to a decisive 18-3 rally in their third straight victory to open a seven-game homestand.
Around the league
Trail Blazers forward Darius Miles had surgery on his right knee and will miss the rest of the season. … Shaquille O’Neal was inactive for the Heat’s game against Denver because of a hyperextended left knee, his second injury to the knee this season. O’Neal’s status is day to day, the Heat said. … Los Angeles center Chris Mihm underwent surgery on his right ankle, and the Lakers said he is expected to make a complete recovery in six to eight months. … A woman has filed a $2 million civil lawsuit against Trail Blazers forward Zach Randolph, claiming he sexually assaulted her.