Boozer Guides Bulls Past Raptors, NBA Roundup

Bulls Edge Raptors In Toronto

(Toronto, Ontario) -- Carlos Boozer posted 20 points and eight rebounds as the Bulls edged the Raptors 94-92 at the Air Canada Centre. Jimmy Butler blocked DeMar DeRozan's jumper before making one-of-two free throws to give Chicago a two-point lead with two seconds left. Butler ended with 16 points, while Kirk Hinrich and D.J. Augustin both added 19 for the Bulls, who have won four in-a-row. DeRozan dropped in a game-high 32 points for the Raptors, who had won their previous three. Kyle Lowry was the only other player in double-figures with 16 points in defeat.

Bobcats Pound Pistons

(Charlotte, NC) -- Kemba Walker racked up 24 points, 16 assists and five rebounds as the Bobcats pounded the Pistons 116-98 to sweep the home-and-home series at Time Warner Cable Arena. Al Jefferson scored a game-high 29 points to go with eight boards for the 'Cats, who knocked off the Pistons 108-96 in Motown on Tuesday. Josh McRoberts donated 15 points and Gerald Henderson had 11 points and eight boards in the victory. Brandon Jennings led six players in double figures with 20 points for Detroit, which has lost three in-a-row. Rodney Stuckey netted 15 points and Will Bynum added 14 points and eight assists in the setback.

Cavaliers Win Streak Continues Downing Magic

(Cleveland, OH) -- The Cavaliers stayed on a roll with Kyrie Irving putting up 22 points, seven assists and seven rebounds as they defeated the Magic 101-93 at Quicken Loans Arena. Cleveland has won six straight games to jump to 22-33.  The entire Cavs starting five was in double figures with Luol Deng adding 17 points, while Tristan Thompson and Tyler Zeller each chipped in 16. Thompson also grabbed 14 rebounds.  Arron Afflalo posted a game-high 23 points on 7-of-14 shooting in the loss. Nikola Vucevic tallied 20 points and 12 boards for Orlando, which has lost three straight.

Wizards Pound Hawks

(Atlanta, GA) -- John Wall tallied 21 points, 12 assists and five rebounds to lead the Wizards past the Hawks, 114-97, at Philips Arena. Washington outscored Atlanta by 17 in the first quarter and never looked back. Marcin Gortat contributed a double-double with 14 points and 12 boards, while Bradley Beal and Trevor Ariza each put up 19 points. The Wizards snapped a three-game losing streak. Paul Millsap and Elton Brand combined for 41 points and 22 rebounds in the loss. Atlanta has lost seven in-a-row to fall a season-high three games under .500.

Love Leads T'wolves Past Pacers

(Minneapolis, MN) -- Kevin Love erupted for 42 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Timberwolves past the Pacers 104-91 at the Target Center. Ricky Rubio dished out 17 assists but had just six points on 2-of-10 shooting. Corey Brewer and J.J. Barea both added 12 points for the T'wolves, who have won two in-a-row after a four-game skid.  Paul George posted 35 points and 11 boards to pace Indiana, which has alternated wins and losses over its last six games. Lance Stephenson chipped in with 10 points and as many boards in the setback.

Knicks Sink Pelicans

(New Orleans, LA) -- Carmelo Anthony exploded for 42 points on 16-of-29 shooting to help the Knicks sneak past the Pelicans, 98-91, at the Smoothie King Center.  "Melo" scored 13 of New York's 20 fourth quarter points as they snapped a three-game losing streak. J.R. Smith and Tim Hardaway Jr. combined for 35 points and six three pointers off the bench in the victory. Iman Shumpert left the game with a sprained left knee, but the extent of the injury isn't yet known. Eric Gordon tallied 28 points and four boards for New Orleans, which has lost three of four. Anthony Davis put up 14 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks.

Suns Clip Celtics

(Phoenix, AZ) -- Markieff Morris led six players in double-figures with 18 points as the Suns clipped the Celtics 100-94 at the US Airways Center. Goran Dragic and Gerald Green both added 17 points, while P.J. Tucker tallied 10 points, 11 rebounds and six assists for the Suns, who have won three of their last four.  Channing Frye chipped in with 15 points and seven boards. Rajon Rondo racked up 18 points, 10 assists and seven boards for Boston, which has lost three-of-four. Brandon Bass contributed 18 points and eight rebounds in the setback.

Nets Snip Jazz

(Salt Lake City, UT) -- Joe Johnson posted 27 points and six assists as the Nets defeated the Jazz, 105-99, in Salt Lake City. Deron Williams added 19 points, seven helpers and four boards for Brooklyn, which outscored Utah by 14 in the second half. Andray Blatche added 25 off the bench. The Nets have won three of four to pull within two games of .500. Trey Burke tallied a double-double with 14 points and 10 assists in the loss.  Alec Burks racked up a team-high 23 points off the bench. The Jazz won their previous three games.

Warriors Bounce Kings

(Sacramento, CA) -- The Warriors outscored the Kings by 10 in the fourth quarter to pull out a 101-92 win against the Kings at Sleep Train Arena. David Lee paced Golden State with 23 points and 11 rebounds, while Steph Curry chipped in with 13 points and eight assists. Golden State is 3-and-3 in its last six games.  Sacramento center DeMarcus Cousins sat out with a hip injury. Isaiah Thomas dropped a game-high 26 points with seven assists in the loss. Thomas did have seven of the Kings' 21 turnovers. They have lost four of five.

Spurs Slice Blazers

(Portland, OR) -- No Tim Duncan or Tony Parker for the Spurs didn't matter as they defeated the Trail Blazers, 111-109, at the Moda Center. Patty Mills led the way off the bench with 29 points, while Marco Belinelli added 20. San Antonio has won four of five to move to 40-15. Damian Lillard posted a game-high 31 points with six assists and four rebounds in the loss. Portland played without LaMarcus Aldridge, which led to them not playing the same starting lineup for the first time this season. The stumbling Blazers are 5-9 in their last 14 games.

Rockets Thump Lakers In Howard's Return

(Los Angeles, CA) -- The Rockets scored a season high in points as they defeated the Lakers 134-108 in Dwight Howard's return to the STAPLES Center. Howard posted 20 points and 13 rebounds in his first game at his former team since leaving in the offseason. James Harden scored 29 points and dished out 11 assists.  The Rockets have won eight straight to jump to 37-17. The Lakers got 24 points from Wesley Johnson and 20 points and 16 assists from Kendall Marshall in the loss. Los Angeles falls to 18-36 on the season, tied for the worst record in the Western Conference.

Wednesday, February 19 Scoreboard

NBA

Chicago Bulls 94, Toronto Raptors 92

Charlotte Bobcats 116, Detroit Pistons 98

Cleveland Cavaliers 101, Orlando Magic 93

Washington Wizards 114, Atlanta Hawks 97

Minnesota Timberwolves 104, Indiana Pacers 91

New York Knicks 98, New Orleans Pelicans 91

Phoenix Suns 100, Boston Celtics 94

Brooklyn Nets 105, Utah Jazz 99

Golden State Warriors 101, Sacramento Kings 92

San Antonio Spurs 111, Portland Trail Blazers 109

Houston Rockets 134, Los Angeles Lakers 108

Thursday, February 20 Schedule (All Times Central)

NBA

7:00 p.m. - Denver Nuggets at Milwaukee Bucks

7:00 p.m. - Miami Heat at Oklahoma City Thunder

9:30 p.m. - Houston Rockets at Golden State Warriors