CHARLOTTE, N.C. // Kemba Walker scored 31 points and the Charlotte Bobcats won for the fourth time in five nights, defeating the Memphis Grizzlies 92-89 on Saturday night.
Charlotte is 4-0 since the All-Star break, marking its longest winning streak since March 2011.
The Bobcats used an 18-3 run in the fourth quarter to break open a tight game and then held on down the stretch with Walker making four free throws in final 25 seconds to snap Memphis’ four-game win streak.
The Bobcats won even though the Grizzlies held Al Jefferson to just six points on 2-of-13 shooting. Jefferson came in having scored 29 points or more in eight of his last 11 games and at least 20 points in 17 of the last 19.
The Grizzlies were led by Mike Conley, who had 16 points, but twice missed 3-point attempts when he had a chance to tie the game on Memphis’ final possession.
The Bobcats trailed 66-64 early in the fourth quarter when Anthony Tolliver got hot from the outside, igniting an 18-3 run with three 3-pointers to give Charlotte a 13-point lead. Tolliver finished with nine points.
TIMBERWOLVES 121, JAZZ 104
SALT LAKE CITY // Kevin Love had 37 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists for his first career triple-double to help Minnesota cruise past Utah.
Minnesota was again playing without starters Nikola Pekovic (ankle) and Kevin Martin (finger), but Love filled the void, keeping one step ahead of the Jazz through the game.
Ricky Rubio had 15 points, and Corey Brewer and Chase Budinger scored 13 apiece as the Wolves won their third straight game.
Enes Kanter couldn’t stop Love, but had success against him on the offensive end, scoring 25 points for the Jazz, who dropped their third in a row after a season-best three-game win streak.
WARRIORS 93, NETS 86
OAKLAND, California // Jermaine O’Neal had season highs of 23 points and 13 rebounds and Stephen Curry added 17 points, including a 3-pointer in the final minute, as Golden State held off Brooklyn for its third straight victory since the All-Star break.
With Andrew Bogut sidelined with a shoulder injury and David Lee out with the flu, O’Neal and Draymond Green more than filled the void in the absence of Golden State’s frontcourt regulars.
O’Neal shot 10 for 13 from the floor, and Green scored a career-best 18 points to go with 10 rebounds.
Deron Williams had 20 points and six assists, and Joe Johnson scored 15 points for a Nets team that made just 2 of 21 attempts from beyond the arc.
HAWKS 107, KNICKS 98
ATLANTA // Mike Scott scored a career-high 30 points and Jeff Teague added 28 as Atlanta ended an eight-game losing streak by beating New York.
Carmelo Anthony finished with 35 points for the Knicks, who blew a double-digit, third-quarter lead for the second straight night.
New York has lost two straight and seven of nine to fall 5 games behind Atlanta for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot.
Atlanta began the game without All-Star forward Paul Millsap, who sustained a right knee contusion late in Friday’s loss at Detroit, but the Hawks rallied from a 17-point deficit in the third quarter to take a 74-73 lead on Lou Williams’ 3 early in the fourth.
WIZARDS 94, PELICANS 93
WASHINGTON // Nene made the go-ahead dunk with 0.9 seconds left and matched a season high with 30 points to propel Washington past New Orleans.
Washington trailed 93-92 when Anthony Davis hit two free throws with seven seconds left. After a timeout, the Wizards inbounded to John Wall, who dribbled to the lane and passed to Nene, who slammed the ball with his right hand. It was the 12th assist of the night for Wall.
The play spoiled a big performance by Davis, who had 26 points and 11 rebounds. Anthony Morrow added 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting.
Center Marcin Gortat contributed 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Wizards.
PACERS 110, BUCKS 100
MILWAUKEE // Paul George scored 32 points and David West tied a season high with 30, helping Indiana hang on to beat Milwaukee.
Lance Stephenson added 24 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for the Pacers, who had lost three of their previous five games. Stephenson scored seven straight points to open the fourth quarter.
Brandon Knight scored 30 points for Milwaukee, including 20 in the first half.
Milwaukee kept the game close into the final minutes, but West hit a jumper with 48 seconds left to seal the victory.
KINGS 105, CELTICS 98
SACRAMENTO, California // Rudy Gay scored eight of his 22 points over the final six minutes and Isaiah Thomas added 21 points and matched his career high with 12 assists as Sacramento beat Boston.
DeMarcus Cousins had 13 points, while Derrick Williams and Carl Landry added 10 points apiece off the bench for Sacramento.
The Kings never trailed and limited the Celtics to one basket over the final 7 minutes after Boston tied the game midway through the fourth quarter.
Jeff Green scored 29 on 7-of-25 shooting for the Celtics, who played without Rajon Rondo and Jared Sullinger.
MAVERICKS 113, PISTONS 102
AUBURN HILLS, Michigan // Dirk Nowitzki scored 24 points and Vince Carter added 18 as Dallas held off Detroit.
The Mavericks finished with 16 offensive rebounds, while the Pistons, who came in leading the NBA in that department, had only nine.
Monta Ellis had 12 points and 13 assists for the Mavericks.
Josh Smith finished with 32 points for the Pistons, his most since signing with Detroit last offseason.
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