NBA: Orlando beats Milwaukee in injury-riddled matchup

The Associated Press |

11/24/2008 - 11/25/08

ORLANDO, Fla. — Dwight Howard was still standing, and that's all that mattered for the depleting Magic.

Howard finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds as Orlando outlasted Milwaukee 108-101 Monday night in a matchup of injury-depleted teams.

Richard Jefferson scored 25 points to lead Milwaukee, which lost Andrew Bogut to a knee bruise in the third quarter. The Bucks were already missing Michael Redd and Luke Ridnour, their starting backcourt, to injuries.

Hedo Turkoglu, forced to play some point guard when Jameer Nelson went out with a groin pull, and Rashard Lewis each added 22 points for the Magic (10-4).

Howard picked up his fourth foul halfway through the third quarter but played eight minutes in the final quarter, scoring 7 points.

Rockets 107, Heat 98

In Miami, Yao Ming scored 28 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, Ron Artest scored 20 and Houston finished off a perfect three-game road trip with a win over the Heat.

Rafer Alston added 14 points for Houston, which finished with seven players in double figures and outrebounded Miami 51-35.

Dwyane Wade scored 23 points for Miami, doing so on 7-for-23 shooting. Mario Chalmers added a career-best 23, including five 3-pointers, for the Heat, who also got 17 points from Shawn Marion and 14 from Michael Beasley.

The Rockets finished their Eastern Conference road swing 3-0, marking only the fourth time in the last 12 years that they were perfect on a trip lasting at least three games.

Bobcats 93, 76ers 84

In Charlotte, N.C., D.J. Augustin scored 25 points and added 11 assists, backcourt mate Raymond Felton added 23 points, and the Bobcats used their new speedy and tiny lineup to beat the 76ers.

The 6-foot Augustin and the 6-1 Felton had their best game together since coach Larry Brown inserted the rookie Augustin in the starting lineup three games ago. They helped the Bobcats snap a four-game losing streak despite another meek performance from Charlotte's front line that somehow the 76ers couldn't take advantage of.

Elton Brand had 18 points and Andre Iguodala added 17 points for the Sixers.

Spurs 94, Grizzlies 81

In Memphis, Tenn., Manu Ginobili scored 12 points in his first game of the season to help San Antonio beat the Grizzlies.

Ginobili missed the first 12 games after offseason ankle surgery. He entered with 5:34 left in the first quarter and promptly made his first two shots, the first from outside the arc and the second on a dunk. He played 11 minutes.

Rookie George Hill scored 20 points and Roger Mason added 18 to lead the Spurs. Tim Duncan added 14 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks for San Antonio, which has won five of its last six games.

O.J. Mayo scored 23 of his 26 points in the second half for Memphis. Rudy Gay had 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Darko Milicic added 11 points and 11 boards.

Bulls 101, Jazz 100

In Salt Lake City, Larry Hughes hit a 22-foot jumper as time expired and Chicago dealt the short-handed Jazz their first home loss of the season.

Hughes got the rebound after Derrick Rose missed inside with Utah leading 100-99 and got off the winning shot. The play was reviewed and the shot stood to give the Bulls their second road win of the season.

Rose finished with 25 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, and nine assists.

Mehmet Okur had 26 points and nine rebounds for Utah, which was without starters Deron Williams (ankle) and Carlos Boozer (quad) and three regulars.

Trail Blazers 91, Kings 90

In Portland, Brandon Roy scored a season-high 28 points and the Trail Blazers rallied during the final six minutes to beat the Kings.

Joel Przybilla added 10 points and 12 rebounds, while Steve Blake had 12 points for the Blazers.

Greg Oden made his first start for Portland since returning from a foot injury on Nov. 12. Oden, the first pick of the '07 draft, had three points, six rebounds, and four turnovers in 19 ineffective minutes.

John Salmons, who led Sacramento with 20 points, had a chance to win the game, but his drive to the basket with two seconds remaining came up short of the rim, allowing the Blazers to escape with the victory.