ORLANDO, Fla. – Dwight Howard had 22 points and 16 rebounds in a bruising battle with Shaquille O’Neal, and the Orlando Magic beat Cleveland 101-95 on Sunday to hand the Cavaliers their first three-game losing streak in two years.

Cleveland’s skid comes on the heels of a 13-game winning streak.

Howard was 8 for 13 shooting and added four blocks. Vince Carter scored eight of his 11 points in the fourth quarter to help the Magic beat Cleveland for the first time this season.

O’Neal made his first eight shots and finished with 20 points, and LeBron James had 33 points and nine rebounds for the Cavaliers.

 

THUNDER 109, TIMBER-WOLVES 107: Kevin Durant scored 32 points to extend his streak of games with at least 25 points to 28 games, and Russell Westbrook had a triple-double to lead visiting Oklahoma City to its ninth straight win.

Westbrook had 22 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists, and Jeff Green added 17 points and 14 rebounds for the Thunder, who have the longest active winning streak in the NBA.

Jonny Flynn and Kevin Love each had 19 points for the Timberwolves, who have dropped five in a row.

 

PISTONS 109, SPURS 101: Richard Hamilton scored 27 points and Rodney Stuckey added 20 as Detroit beat visiting San Antonio in overtime.

Manu Ginobili’s layup tied the game at 93 with 27.5 seconds left in regulation.

Tim Duncan had 29 points and 10 rebounds for the Spurs.

San Antonio guard Tony Parker missed the game because of a strained left hip flexor.

 

GRIZZLIES 104, NETS 94: Rudy Gay scored 29 points and Memphis added another exclamation point to a frustrating season for New Jersey, rallying from an 18-point first-half deficit at East Rutherford, N.J.

O.J. Mayo scored 10 of his 24 points in a 17-point run that bridged the third and fourth quarters and put the Grizzlies ahead for good.

 

HORNETS 102, ROCKETS 94: David West scored 27 points, including four in the final 2 minutes, to lift New Orleans to a win at home.

Darren Collison added 26 points for New Orleans.

 

SUNS 104, KINGS 88: Jason Richardson scored 26 points, Amare Stoudemire had 19 points and 14 rebounds, and Steve Nash had 17 assists to lead Phoenix past visiting Sacramento.

 

WARRIORS 108, HAWKS 104: Stephen Curry scored 32 points and made the go-ahead free throw in the final minute after a technical foul on Jamal Crawford as Golden State rallied from an 18-point deficit against visiting Atlanta.

NOTES

HEAT: Dwyane Wade is no longer in a walking boot but remains listed as day-to-day with a strained left calf.

The star guard underwent tests that confirmed the injury — sustained last week in a game against New Jersey — is not more severe than first thought.

 

Copy the Story Link