Home Sports Basketball Bulls Rock Pacers, NBA Roundup

Bulls Rock Pacers, NBA Roundup

Published on March 25 2014 6:29 am
Last Updated on March 25 2014 6:29 am
Written by Millie Lange

Bulls Rock Slumping Pacers

(Chicago, IL) -- The race for the stop spot in the Eastern Conference is getting tighter as the faltering Pacers fell to the Bulls, 89-77, at the United Center. Indiana has dropped seven out of 12 and is now only one game ahead of Miami in the loss column. Taj Gibson led the way for Chicago with 23 points and eight boards off the bench. Kirk Hinrich added 18 points, while Joakim Noah posted 10 points, with eight rebounds, eight assists, four steals and three blocks. Chicago has won three of four. Paul George paced Indiana with 21 points and seven boards. The Pacers shot 37-percent as a team and had five more turnovers than assists.

Rockets Smack Bobcats

(Charlotte, NC) -- James Harden led the Rockets with 31 points and five assists as they dumped the Bobcats, 100-89, at Time Warner Cable Arena. Dwight Howard returned to the lineup after missing the previous three games with an ankle injury to the tune of 10 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in 33 minutes. Terrence Jones added 18 points and seven boards for Houston, which has won four straight. Charlotte shot 37-percent from the field including 4-of-21 from three-point range. Kemba Walker posted a team-high 22 points, while Al Jefferson tallied a double-double with 20 and 11 rebounds. The Bobcats have lost three of four.

Suns Trip Up Hawks

(Atlanta, GA) -- In a huge game with playoff consequences in each conference, the Suns pulled out a 102-95 win against the Hawks at Philips Arena. Eric Bledsoe posted 20 points, six rebounds and four assists for Phoenix, which is 6-and-2 since he returned to the lineup. Goran Dragic chipped in 19 points and six assists, while Gerald Green and Markieff Morris combined for 30 points off the bench in the victory. Phoenix is tied with the Dallas Mavericks for the final playoff spot in the West and currently holds the tiebreaker. Paul Milsap and DeMarre Carroll each tallied 19 points for the Hawks, who have lost three in-a-row, all without forward Kyle Korver. Atlanta now sits two-and-half games ahead of the Knicks for the eighth spot in the East.

LeBron Lifts Heat Past Portland

(Miami, FL) -- LeBron James' layup with 11.4-seconds left lifted the Heat to a 93-91 win over the Trail Blazers at AmericanAirlines Arena. James ended with 32 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals for the Heat, who have won four of their last six. Chris Bosh donated 15 points, eight boards and four steals on his 30th birthday, while Chris Anderson added 13 points and 11 boards in the victory. Damian Lillard posted 19 points and six assists to pace Portland, which fell to 0-2 on its five-game east coast road trip. Mo Williams had 17 points, including a pair of free throws with 30.9-seconds remaining that capped a 7-0 run and tied the game at 91.

Thunder Dominate Nuggets

(Oklahoma City, OK) -- It wasn't much of a challenge for the Thunder as they crushed the Nuggets, 117-96, in Oklahoma City behind 27 points and eight assists from Kevin Durant. Russell Westbrook got the night off, but will play in the second half of the back-to-back on Tuesday. Reggie Jackson filled in for Westbrook and posted 16 points and 11 assists for the Thunder, who have won four straight and six of seven. Ty Lawson scored a team-high 25 points including 13-of-16 from the charity stripe in the loss. Quincy Miller and Timofey Mozgov each added 12 for Denver, which had won three of its previous four.

Pelicans Sink Nets In OT

(New Orleans, LA) -- The Nets blew a 22-point lead as the Pelicans raced to a 109-104 victory at the Smoothie King Center. Tyreke Evans led the way with 33 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Anthony Davis contributed 24 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks, while Brian Roberts added 17 points. New Orleans has won four of five. Deron Williams dropped 23 points, eight boards and five dimes in the loss. Brooklyn missed 30 of its 40 three-point attempts. The Nets four-game winning streak came to an end.

Grizzlies Trounce T'wolves

(Memphis, TN) -- Mike Conley led six players in double figures with 23 points as the Grizzlies trounced the Timberwolves 109-92 at FedExForum. Zach Randolph recorded 17 points and Marc Gasol had 14 to go with 12 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who have won four of their last five. Tayshaun Prince and Ed Davis added 12 points apiece in the triumph. Gorgui Dieng posted 11 points and 17 boards for Minnesota, which fell to 34-35 with its third straight loss. Kevin Love shot just 6-of-18 from the field for 16 points, while Corey Brewer donated 15 points and seven boards in the setback.

Spurs Hand 76ers 25th Straight Loss; Win 14th In-A-Row

(San Antonio, TX) -- Austin Daye scored a game-high 22 points off the bench as the Spurs cruised past the 76ers 113-91 at the AT&T Center. San Antonio extended its winning streak to 14 while handing Philadelphia its 25th straight loss. The Sixers are now one setback shy of tying the NBA record. They play at Houston on Thursday. Tim Duncan posted 19 points in 23 minutes of action, while Kawhi Leonard and Patty Mills both scored 15 points for the Spurs, who lead the NBA at 54-16. Thaddeus Young and Michael Carter-Williams netted 17 points apiece for the Sixers. Byron Mullens had 15 points and eight boards in the setback.

Pistons Storm Jazz

(Salt Lake City, UT) -- Andre Drummond scored 19 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to help the Pistons defeat the Jazz, 114-94, in Salt Lake City. Rodney Stuckey added 19 points off the bench, while Greg Monroe had a double-double with 18 points and 11 boards. Detroit ended a five-game losing streak. Gordon Hayward exploded for 32 points and six assists in the loss. Enes Canter tallied 14 with eight boards as Utah fell for the seventh time in its last eight tries.

Clippers Turn Down Bucks

(Los Angeles, CA) -- Blake Griffin dominated with 27 points, 14 rebounds and six assists as the Clippers rolled to a 106-98 win over the Bucks at STAPLES Center. Chris Paul added 14 points and seven assists while Darren Collison had 15 points and six dimes in the win. Los Angeles has won 13 out of 14 games. Ramon Sessions led Milwaukee with 28 points, seven assists and six rebounds. Jeff Adrien and Zaza Pachulia each netted 14 points for the Bucks, who have lost eight straight.

Monday, March 24 Scoreboard

NBA

Houston Rockets 100, Charlotte Bobcats 89

Phoenix Suns 102, Atlanta Hawks 95

Miami Heat 93, Portland Trail Blazers 91

Oklahoma City Thunder 117, Denver Nuggets 96

Chicago Bulls 89, Indiana Pacers 77

New Orleans Pelicans 109, Brooklyn Nets 104 (OT)

Memphis Grizzlies 109, Minnesota Timberwolves 92

San Antonio Spurs 113, Philadelphia 76ers 91

Detroit Pistons 114, Utah Jazz 94

Los Angeles Clippers 106, Milwaukee Bucks 98