Sports

NBA

Raptors run win streak to five

Associated Press
Published January 7, 2006

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TORONTO - Getting a basketball shoved in his face by an ex-teammate made Mike James play even better.

James had 30 points, eight assists and seven rebounds against his former team, and the Raptors won their season-high fifth straight with a 112-92 rout of the Houston Rockets on Friday night.

James, acquired from Houston in a trade for Rafer Alston in October, stepped up his game after Rockets forward Juwan Howard was ejected for shoving him in the face with the basketball.

After James drove toward the basket and was fouled by Howard, the players exchanged words before Howard approached James and shoved the ball into his face. James was restrained by his teammates. Both received a technical, but Howard was also tossed.

"After that happened, something really clicked inside of me," James said. "The only person I fear in my life is my heavyweight father. Besides that, I fear no man."

Alston showed up late to the arena, then was critical of Raptors coach Sam Mitchell, saying he didn't prepare his players for games. Alston repeatedly clashed with Mitchell last year.

Alston had just two points and seven assists in 35 minutes.

HORNETS 90, TRAIL BLAZERS 80: Kirk Snyder scored a career-high 22 and David West added 19 points and 13 rebounds as New Orleans recovered from the loss of point guard Chris Paul to beat Portland in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Paul grabbed his right thumb and walked to the bench after a basket by Portland's Juan Dixon that cut the Blazers' deficit to 53-41 just 36 seconds into the second half. Paul is expected to miss at least two weeks with a torn ligament.

KNICKS 113, WIZARDS 92: Rookie center Channing Frye matched his season-high with 30 points, including 11 during a decisive 15-4 run in the third quarter, as host New York beat Washington.

Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison scored 22 points apiece to lead Washington, which has lost four straight.

MAVERICKS 114, NUGGETS 112 (OT): Devin Harris made an easy layup with 2.2 seconds left in overtime to lift visiting Dallas past Denver.

On the inbound play after a timeout, Harris moved through several picks, got free from Andre Miller, then scooted toward the basket and found himself wide open, taking a pass from Josh Howard and easily making the shot.

BULLS 105, BUCKS 92: Chris Duhon scored 13 of his 16 in the fourth quarter, and visiting Chicago snapped an eight-game skid.

The Bulls put seven players in double figures against Milwaukee, which never found its rhythm despite 25 points from Michael Redd.

GRIZZLIES 87, JAZZ 65: Pau Gasol scored 27 and matched his career high with 18 rebounds to help host Memphis snap Utah's five-game winning streak.

Gasol also had seven assists and four blocks as Memphis won its fourth straight.

PISTONS 97, SONICS 85: Chauncey Billups and Tayshaun Prince each scored 21 as host Detroit won for the 11th time in 12 games.

Detroit is an NBA-best 26-4, a record that trails the league's best 30-game mark by one win. Five teams started 27-3, including the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, who won an NBA-record 72 games.

SPURS 83, TIMBERWOLVES 77: Tony Parker scored 23 points and host San Antonio reversed its poor foul shooting in the final quarter.

The Spurs were 4-of-11 at the line in the first three quarters, but 7-of-8 in the final period. Manu Ginobili made all four of his free throws in the final 25 seconds.

HAWKS 103, CELTICS 98: Al Harrington had 28 points and eight rebounds as visiting Atlanta snapped a four-game losing streak.

Paul Pierce missed a potential game-tying 3-point attempt with 14.9 seconds remaining as Boston's three-game home winning streak came to an end.

CAVALIERS: Guard Larry Hughes underwent surgery to repair his broken right middle finger. He is expected to miss eight weeks.

CELTICS: First-round draft pick Gerald Green, a 6-foot-8 swingman, will be sent to the developmental league. Green, the 18th overall pick in the June draft, will be assigned to the Fayetteville (N.C.) Patriots.

[Last modified January 7, 2006, 01:18:53]