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Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard goes in for a shot in front of Detroit Pistons guard Will Bynum during the first half of an NBA game in Orlando, Fla., Wednesday. Orlando won, 116-91.
AP PHOTO
INDIANAPOLIS — Tony Parker scored 28 points to help the San Antonio Spurs beat the Indiana Pacers 90-87 on Wednesday night.
Parker returned after missing San Antonio’s final game before the All-Star break because if a strained left hip flexor.
Tim Duncan had just eight points on 4-for-23 shooting, but had 26 rebounds and five assists. Manu Ginobili added 18 points, seven assists and six rebounds for the Spurs.
Danny Granger scored 23 points, Roy Hibbert had 14 points, seven rebounds and six blocks, and Troy Murphy added nine points and 16 rebounds for Indiana.
The Spurs won despite shooting just 35 percent from the field. Duncan’s rebounding helped the Spurs take 16 more shots than the Pacers.
Indiana took its first lead of the second half early in the fourth quarter on T.J. Ford’s short jumper in the lane.
The lead seesawed until the final minutes. Richard Jefferson hit a 3-pointer, then Ginobili converted a 3-point play to give San Antonio a 90-84 advantage.
Granger made a 3-pointer with 30 seconds left to make it 90-87.
The crowd stood, hoping the Pacers could get a stop. Ginobili drove, but Hibbert blocked his shot. Duncan rebounded and kicked the ball out to George Hill, who heaved a desperation 3-pointer as the shot clock expired. The ball was tipped around until the Spurs gained control and ran out the clock.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich switched up his lineup, starting Keith Bogans and Matt Bonner instead of Jefferson and Antonio McDyess.
San Antonio led 51-45 at halftime before getting hot in the third quarter. A free-throw line jumper by Duncan closed out a 7-0 run that gave the Spurs a 64-50 lead.
Indiana rallied at the end of the third quarter. Two free throws by Hibbert capped an 11-3 run at the end of the period that trimmed San Antonio’s lead to 69-67.
Magic 116, Pistons 91
ORLANDO, Fla. — Dwight Howard had a season-high 33 points and added 17 rebounds to help the Orlando Magic beat the Detroit Pistons.
The reigning Defensive Player of the Year added seven blocks in a dominating performance that gave Orlando its 11th win in the last 14 games. Howard was 11 for 13 on free throws, a refreshing reprieve for the Magic from his normal woes.
Vince Carter finished with 20 points, and Jameer Nelson had 14 for Orlando.
Richard Hamilton had 36 points, and Tayshaun Prince scored 13 for the Pistons, who had little help late with Ben Gordon ejected.
Bulls 115, Knicks 109
NEW YORK — Derrick Rose scored 27 points, Luol Deng added 23, and the Chicago Bulls beat the New York Knicks to complete a sweep of a home-and-home series.
With trade rumors swirling around both teams, the Bulls rallied from a 15-point deficit to move above .500 at 27-26 and hand the Knicks their fifth straight loss.
Brad Miller had 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Taj Gibson finished with 14 points and a career-high 16 rebounds as Chicago outrebounded New York 52-40.
Al Harrington scored 27 points, and Wilson Chandler had 26 for the Knicks. David Lee had 23 points and 12 rebounds, while Danilo Gallinari scored 19 points but was just 2 of 10 from 3-point range, including a pair of costly misses with a chance to tie in the final minute.
Wizards 108, Timberwovles 99
WASHINGTON — Andray Blatche, a last-minute substitution for the not-yet officially traded Antawn Jamison, scored a career-high 33 points and had 13 rebounds in the Washington Wizards’ victory over Minnesota.
Though no trade was announced officially, Jamison, who was rumored to be heading to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a three-team deal, left the Verizon Center moments before the game began — with the Wizards scrambling to find replacements.
Jamison, a Washington stalwart since 2004, has been coveted by the Cavaliers for weeks. After Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson were traded to the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday for Josh Howard, Drew Gooden, Quinton Ross and James Singleton, it wasn’t a surprise that Jamison would be dealt.
Heat 87, Nets 84
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Michael Beasley had 23 points and 11 rebounds and Miami Heat overcame the early loss of All-Star MVP Dwyane Wade in beating the New Jersey Nets for their season-high fourth straight victory.
Jermaine O’Neal, who strained his lower back in a first-quarter fall, hit three free throws and had two blocks down the stretch as the Heat used a game-closing 13-4 spurt to prevent the Nets from winning consecutive games for the first time this season.
Wade strained his left calf sometime in the opening 7:26 and did not play again. He finished with eight points, snapping his streak of 148 straight games in double figures, the second-longest active streak in the NBA behind LeBron James (255).
Quentin Richardson added 16 points — including a tying 3-pointer with 1:52 to go, and a game-high 14 rebounds for Miami.
Brook Lopez had 25 points and 10 rebounds for the Nets, whose only basket in the final 4:56 came on a goaltending call at the buzzer. Devin Harris added 18 points.
Grizzlies 109, Raptors 102
TORONTO — Rudy Gay scored eight of his 29 points in overtime and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Toronto Raptors to snap a five-game losing streak.
Zach Randolph had 24 points and 11 rebounds, and Marc Gasol had 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who had lost seven of their last eight.
O.J. Mayo scored 22 points for Memphis, and Mike Conley added 13 points and eight assists.
Gay was strong in overtime, making four of five shots as the Grizzlies outscored Toronto 12-5.
Chris Bosh had 32 points and 10 rebounds for Toronto, which had won eight straight home games and eight of nine overall.
Knicks trade Milicic to ’Wolves
NEW YORK — The New York Knicks have traded Darko Milicic to the Minnesota Timberwolves for forward Brian Cardinal.
The Timberwolves also received cash considerations in the deal that was completed Wednesday night.
The 24-year-old Milicic was selected by the Detroit Pistons with the second overall pick in the 2003 draft, just behind LeBron James and ahead of Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade. He is heading to his fifth NBA team.
Milicic has played in just eight games this season for the Knicks. He is averaging just 2.0 points and has not played since Nov. 13.
The 32-year-old Cardinal is averaging 1.7 points in 27 games this season. He has received sparse playing time for the young and rebuilding Timberwolves.