Carmelo, Lin don't gel; Nets top Knicks
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 14 years, 8 months AGO
<p>New York Knicks' Carmelo Anthony (7) puts up a shot as he is guarded by New Jersey Nets' Johan Petro, of France, during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Feb. 20, 2012, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)</p>
Linsanity ran into reality: All-Star Deron Williams wasn't getting embarrassed by the Harvard guy again.
Williams scored a season-high 38 points, outplaying Jeremy Lin and leading the New Jersey Nets to a 100-92 victory over the New York Knicks on Monday night.
Lin began his remarkable run against the Nets about two weeks ago, but Williams and the Nets were ready for him this time.
Lin finished with 21 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, but Williams outscored him 36-11 through three quarters, when the Nets led by 18. Lin shot only 7 of 18 and the Knicks lost for the second time in 10 games since his emergence against the Nets on Feb. 4.
Carmelo Anthony, clearly rusty in his return from a seven-game absence with a strained right groin, shot 4 of 11 and scored 11 points.
Thunder 101, Hornets 93: Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook scored 31 points apiece and host Oklahoma City beat New Orleans for its 10th straight home win.
One night after a historic performance featuring big scoring nights from All-Stars Durant and Westbrook and a triple-double from Serge Ibaka, the Thunder built a 26-point lead and then had to scrap it out at the end.
Spurs 106, Jazz 102: At Salt Lake City, Tony Parker scored 23 points and Matt Bonner hit five 3-pointers and San Antonio beat Utah.
Richard Jefferson's 3-pointer with 6.5 seconds left sealed the victory for the Spurs, who have not lost on the road since Jan. 29 in Dallas.
Mavericks 89, Celtics 73: Dirk Nowitzki had 26 points and moved into the top 20 on the NBA career scoring list and host Dallas beat short-handed and struggling Boston.
Suns 104, Wizards 88: Marcin Gortat scored 20 points, Steve Nash had 12 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds in three quarters, and host Phoenix beat Washington.
Bulls 90, Hawks 79: Derrick Rose scored 23 points in his return from back pain, and host Chicago beat struggling Atlanta.
Rose looked sharp after missing the previous five games, and the Bulls played more like championship contenders after a brutal loss to New Jersey two days earlier.
Magic 93, Bucks 90: Dwight Howard had 28 points and 16 rebounds, Jameer Nelson added 15 points to lead Orlando at Milwaukee.
The win was Orlando's third over Milwaukee in 10 days and the third straight time the Magic have overcome a fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Bucks.
Rockets 97, Grizzlies 93: Kyle Lowry scored 24 points, Kevin Martin added 22 and Courtney Lee hit four key free throws down the stretch as host Houston held off Memphis.
Nuggets 103, Timberwolves 101, OT: Kevin Love had 22 points and 13 rebounds to lead Minnesota at Denver.
Warriors 104, Clippers 97: At Oakland, Calif., Monta Ellis had 32 points and David Lee added 24 to help Golden State hold off Los Angeles.
Chris Paul led the Clippers with 24 points.
Lakers 103, Trail Blazers 92: Kobe Bryant scored 28 points and Pau Gasol chipped in 16 to lead host Los Angeles over Portland.
• Rondo suspended: Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo was suspended two games without pay by the NBA for throwing a ball at an official during a game Sunday.
Stu Jackson, the NBA's executive vice president for basketball operations, announced the suspension Monday, one day after Rondo received two technical fouls and was ejected late in the third quarter of Boston's 96-81 loss at the Detroit Pistons.