8:40 am NBA: Nets pound Bulls, halt 8-game skid
CHICAGO (AP) — Deron Williams scored 29 points, Kris Humphries had 24 points and 18 rebounds, and the New Jersey Nets beat the Chicago Bulls 97-85 Saturday to snap an eight-game losing streak.
Chicago’s Derrick Rose missed his fifth straight game because of back pain, and the Nets took advantage, jumping out to a 22-3 lead while rolling to their first victory since Feb. 1.
The lopsided win wasn’t the only good news for New Jersey. Coach Avery Johnson said center Brook Lopez will start Sunday against Milwaukee after being sidelined all season by a broken right foot, a big boost for a team that began the day last in the Atlantic Division.
Lopez was injured in the preseason and the Nets have floundered all year, but they took control right from the start in a surprisingly easy victory over Chicago.
With Rose sidelined, Williams had his way. He scored 21 points in the first half and hit five 3-pointers in the game. He also had eight assists.
Humphries narrowly missed season-highs for points (25) and rebounds (19), while MarShon Brooks added 19 points.
The Bulls had won seven of eight, but the way they were rushing shots and slacking off on defense, they never had a chance. For once, they looked like a team that was missing its star.
Rose remained day to day and the Bulls simply seemed lost.
They shot just over 39 percent, hitting 3 of 13 3-pointers. Things were no better at the foul line, with the Bulls going 16 of 27.
Carlos Boozer and journeyman Mike James each scored 16 points, with Luol Deng and Taj Gibson adding 14 apiece.
Spurs……………………..103
Clippers………………….100
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Gary Neal hit go-ahead 3-pointers in regulation and overtime, Tony Parker scored 30 points and the San Antonio Spurs held off the Los Angeles Clippers 103-100 on Saturday to earn their NBA-leading 10th consecutive victory.
Neal was one of six Spurs in double figures with 17 points. He stole the ball and hit the tying 3-pointer with 5.7 seconds left in regulation. His 3 with 25 seconds to go in overtime snapped a 98-all tie.
Matt Bonner added 13 points, Tim Duncan had 11 points and 17 rebounds, Danny Green scored 11 for the Spurs, who improved to 6-0 on their annual rodeo trip that includes nine games. DeJuan Blair had 10 points.
Blake Griffin had 22 points and 20 rebounds, and Chris Paul and Randy Foye scored 21 points for the Clippers. Paul scored Los Angeles’ last 10 points in regulation, rallying his team from a four-point deficit over the final 2:31, but the Clippers still lost for the 20th time in their last 21 games against the Spurs.
In overtime, Paul hit two free throws to give the Clippers their last lead at 97-95. Bonner hit a 3-pointer that gave the Spurs a one-point lead before Griffin got fouled. He missed the first and made the second to tie it at 98 with 42 seconds left.
Neal then hit the go-ahead 3-pointer and Parker made two free throws for a 103-98 lead.
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