Source: AP (www.nba.com)
Johnson lifts Raptors over Celtics, 102-101
TORONTO(AP) The Boston Celtics are playing tough defense, as usual. Just not for the entire game, and it's costing them.
Amir Johnson made two free throws with 2.7 seconds left, Andrea Bargnani scored 29 points and the Toronto Raptors snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Celtics with a 102-101 victory Sunday.
Paul Pierce's shot bounced off the rim as the buzzer sounded, giving Toronto its first victory against Boston since a 114-112 road win on Jan. 23, 2008.
Boston, which lost 89-84 at home to Oklahoma City on Friday, suffered consecutive defeats for the first time this season.
Hamilton leads Pistons to OT win
AUBURN HILLS, Mich.(AP) After 11 NBA seasons, Richard Hamilton knows his days as an elite scorer are probably over.
He's still capable of lighting things up on occasion, though.
Hamilton scored 12 of his 27 points in overtime in the Detroit Pistons' 115-110 victory over the Washington Wizards on Sunday night.
"I still enjoy playing this game, and I'm always going to work hard out there," said Hamilton, who came into the night averaging just 12.1 points. "When they need me, like they did tonight, I'm going to be ready."
Hamilton hit five straight jumpers before missing with 23 seconds left in the extra period. He later added two free throws to give the Pistons a four-point lead.
Hornets beat Kings to improve to 11-1
SACRAMENTO, Calif.(AP) New Orleans coach Monty Williams was quick with a one-liner after the Hornets survived an ugly game to match San Antonio for the best record in the NBA.
"I don't think either one of us is going to send this tape to Springfield (the Basketball Hall of Fame) or any other field," Williams said after the Hornets improved to 11-1 with a 75-71 victory over Sacramento on Sunday. "At this point in the season I don't even look at the standings. I had no idea we would have this kind of record. Looking at our record, it might be fools' gold."
David West had 17 points, and Trevor Ariza added 16 to help the Hornets win their third straight game.
Donte Greene had 15 points and 10 rebounds for Sacramento. The Kings have dropped nine of 10 games since opening the season 3-1.
The Hornets completed a trade Saturday that sent Peja Stojakovic and Jerryd Bayless to Toronto for point guard Jarrett Jack, center David Andersen and guard Marcus Banks. The three new players are expected to join the Hornets on Monday night in Los Angeles for a game against the Clippers.
"I'm excited. J-Jack is like a brother to me. I talk to him on a regular basis," point guard Chris Paul said. "He brings experience and knows how to play the game. Coming up the bench he will be huge for us."
Marco Belinelli scored 12 points, and Paul had 14 assists for the Hornets, who shot 32 percent and had a season-low point total. Paul shot 2 of 12 and scored nine points.
Luther Head had 11 points for the Kings, and Tyreke Evans was limited to nine.
Lakers rout Warriors on Gasol's perfect night
LOS ANGELES(AP) Pau Gasol scored 28 points without missing a shot, Kobe Bryant added 20 points and the Los Angeles Lakers took a 30-point lead in the first half of their fourth straight victory, 117-89 over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night.
Gasol was 10 of 10 from the field and made all eight of his free throws.
Lamar Odom had 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Lakers, who beat their upstate rivals for the 11th straight time, including twice at Staples Center in three weeks. Los Angeles' 12th win in 14 games to open the season was a laugher by halftime, when the Lakers had hit nearly 66 percent of their shots.
Gasol had nine rebounds and five assists before sitting out the fourth quarter during a historically easy night against Golden State's shoddy interior defense.
According to the Lakers, Gasol became just the third player in NBA history with at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists while making at least five shots and five free throws without a miss.
Why do the Lakers know about that statistical oddity? Because Matt Barnes became the second player to do it two days earlier, scoring 24 points in a perfect performance at Minnesota. Charles Barkley is the only other NBA player to accomplish the feat, doing it during the 1988-89 season.
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