LOS ANGELES – Chauncey Billups scored a career-high 39 points, including nine three-pointers, as the Denver Nuggets beat Los Angeles 126-113 in the NBA on Friday, ending the Lakers’ eight-game home winning streak.
Billups was 12 of 20 from the floor, nine of 13 from three-point range and made six of eight free throws to go with eight assists for the Nuggets, who beat the Western Conference leaders despite being without injured Carmelo Anthony for the seventh straight game.
Billups scored 21 points in the third quarter alone – the most against the Lakers in one period since Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia had 23 in 1965-66.
Kobe Bryant scored 33 points on his sprained left ankle, but the Lakers’ Western Conference lead was cut to 3-1/2 games.
In Atlanta, Josh Smith posted his second career triple-double as Atlanta defeated Chicago, 91-81.
Smith had 18 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists, while Joe Johnson added 18 points for the Hawks, who regrouped after trailing by six to open the fourth quarter.
Luol Deng had 20 points and eight rebounds for the Bulls, who lost their third straight.
In Memphis, Tennessee, Aaron Brooks had 19 points and eight rebounds to steer Houston past Memphis, 101-83.
Trevor Ariza and Carl Landry finished with 17 points apiece for the Rockets.
Marc Gasol led the Grizzlies with 17 points and eight rebounds.
In Orlando, Florida, Caron Butler made a long jump shot with 0.5 seconds remaining to cap Washington’s comeback from a 21-point deficit and a 92-91 victory over Orlando.
Butler finished with 31 points and nine rebounds, and Randy Foye had 22 points and seven assists for the Wizards, who snapped the Magic’s winning streak at four.
Vince Carter scored 21 points to lead Orlando.
In Sacramento, California, Phoenix completed a perfect four-game road trip by sinking Sacramento, 114-102.
Steve Nash had 23 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds, while Amare Stoudemire scored 30 points and had nine rebounds as the Suns completed a four-game road sweep for the first time in three seasons.
The Suns are on a season-long five-game winning streak.
Donte Green scored a career-high 31 points for Sacramento.
In New Orleans, Thaddeus Young made his first seven shots and finished with 19 points to lead Philadelphia over undermanned New Orleans, 101-94.
Andre Iguodala scored 14 points for the 76ers, who stretched their winning streak to a season-high three games.
Peja Stojakovic had 23 points for New Orleans, which has without All-Star point guard Chris Paul, who had knee surgery on Thursday and will be out four-to-six weeks.
Source: Author Unknown | Philstar.com
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