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San Antonio Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) goes up for a shot as Philadelphia 76ers’ Marreese Speights (16) defends in the first half of an NBA game, Friday. The 76ers won, 77-71.
AP pHOTO
PHILADELPHIA — Jrue Holiday scored 27 points to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 77-71 victory over the league-best San Antonio Spurs on Friday night.
Spencer Hawes added 13 points and Elton Brand tied his season high with 17 rebounds for the Sixers, who defeated the Spurs for the fourth consecutive season in Philadelphia.
Despite shooting poorly all night, the Sixers were able to fend off the Spurs and remain in the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Sixers have won eight of their last 11 overall.
Tim Duncan had 16 points and 13 rebounds, while Antonio McDyess added 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Spurs, who had their four-game winning streak snapped. Gary Neal scored 11 points and DeJuan Blair had 14 rebounds for San Antonio, which was trying to become the sixth team in NBA history to begin 45-8 or better.
Lakers 113, Knicks 96
NEW YORK — Kobe Bryant scored 33 points in another effortless night at Madison Square Garden, and the Los Angeles Lakers cruised to a victory over the struggling New York Knicks.
Bryant scored 19 points in the first quarter, and perhaps only the lopsided score kept him from recording a sixth 40-point game at the arena. He also grabbed 10 rebounds.
Pau Gasol added 20 points for the Lakers, who beat the Knicks for the eighth straight time overall and fifth in a row at the Garden, where Bryant owns the scoring record of 61 points that might’ve been in jeopardy if he played more than 29 minutes.
Nets 94, Bobcats 89
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Brook Lopez had 31 points and 11 rebounds for his second double-double of the season, and the New Jersey Nets held off the sluggish Charlotte Bobcats to snap a 12-game road losing streak.
The Nets improved to 4-24 on the road as Lopez posted his first double-figure rebounding game since Dec. 1, leading an energized team that seemed to respond to coach Avery Johnson changing the travel schedule.
Trail Blazers 102, Raptors 96
TORONTO — LaMarcus Aldridge scored 14 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter, Rudy Fernandez had 23 and the Portland Trail Blazers won their third straight game, beating the Toronto Raptors.
Coming off a career-high 42 points in Monday’s win over Chicago, Aldridge shot 14 for 25 and grabbed 10 rebounds.
Hornets 99, Magic 93
ORLANDO, Fla. — Willie Green had 24 points and David West added 17 points and 17 rebounds as the New Orleans Hornets rallied to beat the Orlando Magic.
The Hornets snapped a four-game losing streak, while Orlando’s loss stopped a string of two straight wins. The Magic are now 5-6 since posting their last three-game winning streak last month.
Heat 106, Pistons 92
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Dwyane Wade scored 24 points and LeBron James added 16 points and 10 assists, helping the streaking Miami Heat take over sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference with a win over the Detroit Pistons.
Miami (39-14) has won eight straight games since losing five of six last month. The Heat entered the night tied atop the conference with Boston, which was off after losing to the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday.
Pacers 116, Timberwolves 105
INDIANAPOLIS — Dahntay Jones scored all 19 of his points in the fourth quarter, and the Indiana Pacers rallied to win for the sixth time in seven games under interim coach Frank Vogel with a victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Grizzlies 89, Bucks 86
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Mike Conley had 23 points, including a key 3-pointer with 1:12 left, and eight assists as the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Milwaukee Bucks.