Published: Tuesday, December 15, 2009
NBA ROUNDUP: Nuggets best Durant, Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder still can’t find a way to beat the Denver Nuggets.
Carmelo Anthony scored 31 points — his fourth straight game with at least 30 — and Denver extended its run of success against Oklahoma City with a 102-93 victory Monday night.
J.R. Smith added 19 points and Chris Andersen had 15 for the Nuggets, who beat Oklahoma City for the fifth consecutive time since the former Seattle SuperSonics relocated there before last season.
“I think we’ve played the Nuggets hard every time we’ve faced them, but they’re so talented,” said Kevin Durant, who led the Thunder with 32 points. “It’s tough to guard them when they have the best scorer in the league, getting a 30 a night. Then you have to watch out for Chauncey Billups, J.R. Smith, Ty Lawson. It’s tough. They’ve got a lot of weapons.”
It was Durant’s ninth straight game of 25 points or more, the longest active streak in the NBA.
Celtics 110, Grizzlies 105
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Paul Pierce scored 19 points, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo added 18 each and Boston won its 11th straight game, beating Memphis Monday night.
76ers 117, Warriors 101
PHILADELPHIA — Thaddeus Young had 26 points and 14 rebounds and Allen Iverson scored 20 points as Philadelphia snapped a 12-game losing streak.
Mavericks 94, Hornets 90
DALLAS — J.J. Barea scored a season-high 23 points and Dirk Nowitzki scored four of his season-low 10 in the final 59 seconds for Dallas.
Magic 106, Pacers 98
ORLANDO, Fla. — Dwight Howard overcame a slow start to finish with 21 points and 23 rebounds for Orlando.
Vince Carter, who missed the past two days of practice because of a stomach ailment, sore right knee and slight hip discomfort, added 28 points for the Magic.
T-wolves 110, Jazz 108
SALT LAKE CITY — Jonny Flynn drove for the go-ahead layup with 3 seconds left and Minnesota beat Utah for the second time this season.
Clippers 97, Wizards 95
LOS ANGELES — Eric Gordon matched his season high with 29 points and hit his final free throw with 11.3 seconds left. Washington’s Earl Boykins turned the ball over moments later to seal the win for Los Angeles.
Ariza suspended
HOUSTON — Houston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza was suspended for one game by the NBA after he was ejected from a game in Toronto for throwing a forearm at Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan.
The league suspended Ariza on Monday and he’ll sit out Tuesday’s game against Detroit.
The 6-foot-8 Ariza is Houston’s second-leading scorer, averaging 17 points. He’s started the Rockets’ first 23 games and leads the team in minutes.
Carmelo Anthony scored 31 points — his fourth straight game with at least 30 — and Denver extended its run of success against Oklahoma City with a 102-93 victory Monday night.
J.R. Smith added 19 points and Chris Andersen had 15 for the Nuggets, who beat Oklahoma City for the fifth consecutive time since the former Seattle SuperSonics relocated there before last season.
“I think we’ve played the Nuggets hard every time we’ve faced them, but they’re so talented,” said Kevin Durant, who led the Thunder with 32 points. “It’s tough to guard them when they have the best scorer in the league, getting a 30 a night. Then you have to watch out for Chauncey Billups, J.R. Smith, Ty Lawson. It’s tough. They’ve got a lot of weapons.”
It was Durant’s ninth straight game of 25 points or more, the longest active streak in the NBA.
Celtics 110, Grizzlies 105
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Paul Pierce scored 19 points, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo added 18 each and Boston won its 11th straight game, beating Memphis Monday night.
76ers 117, Warriors 101
PHILADELPHIA — Thaddeus Young had 26 points and 14 rebounds and Allen Iverson scored 20 points as Philadelphia snapped a 12-game losing streak.
Mavericks 94, Hornets 90
DALLAS — J.J. Barea scored a season-high 23 points and Dirk Nowitzki scored four of his season-low 10 in the final 59 seconds for Dallas.
Magic 106, Pacers 98
ORLANDO, Fla. — Dwight Howard overcame a slow start to finish with 21 points and 23 rebounds for Orlando.
Vince Carter, who missed the past two days of practice because of a stomach ailment, sore right knee and slight hip discomfort, added 28 points for the Magic.
T-wolves 110, Jazz 108
SALT LAKE CITY — Jonny Flynn drove for the go-ahead layup with 3 seconds left and Minnesota beat Utah for the second time this season.
Clippers 97, Wizards 95
LOS ANGELES — Eric Gordon matched his season high with 29 points and hit his final free throw with 11.3 seconds left. Washington’s Earl Boykins turned the ball over moments later to seal the win for Los Angeles.
Ariza suspended
HOUSTON — Houston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza was suspended for one game by the NBA after he was ejected from a game in Toronto for throwing a forearm at Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan.
The league suspended Ariza on Monday and he’ll sit out Tuesday’s game against Detroit.
The 6-foot-8 Ariza is Houston’s second-leading scorer, averaging 17 points. He’s started the Rockets’ first 23 games and leads the team in minutes.
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