BRA - Barbosa shines

NEW YORK (NBA) - Leandro Barbosa struggled to make an impact at the FIBA World Championship last summer - but he is shining in the NBA.

Barbosa was part of the Brazil side which exited the tournament in Japan at the group stage after losing four of their five games in a tough pool which included European champions Greece, Turkey, Australia and Lithuania.

He returned to the US with a point to prove and has done exactly that.

His latest effort came in the Phoenix Suns’ 109-102 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Barbosa and Amare Stoudemire combined for 61 points, including the first 11 points in overtime.

Barbosa had 25 points - 17 after the third quarter - and seven assists in place of Steve Nash, who injured his right shoulder in Monday's victory in Denver and was not active for this game.

Stoudemire finished with 36 points on 13-of-22 shooting and nine rebounds.

Zach Randolph had 24 of his 33 points in the second half and added 10 rebounds for Portland, who have lost four of five.

Chris Webber scored 17 points, leading six team-mates in double digits, as the Detroit Pistons extended the Boston Celtics’ franchise-record losing streak to 15 games with a 109-102 victory.

Boston, which has an NBA all-time best 16 world championships, hit a new low while suffering their 22nd loss in their last 24 games.

Chauncey Billups scored 24 points, including 3-of-4 from the arc, and Antonio McDyess added 18 points, connecting on 9-of-10 from the floor, for Detroit, who shot 58% (44-of-76) and have won four straight.

In New York, Eddy Curry scored 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds as the New York Knicks overcame an early deficit to post a 102-90 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Jamal Crawford also had 23 points, including 3-of-6 from three-point range, and reserve David Lee added 16 and 10 boards for the Knicks, who snapped a four-game losing streak to the Clippers.

Ruben Patterson scored 27 points, grabbed seven rebounds and handed out six assists as the Milwaukee Bucks posted a 116-111 victory over the Orlando Magic.

Reserve Earl Boykins had 24 points and Charlie Villanueva added 22 and nine rebounds for the Bucks, who have won seven straight and 15 of 16 against Orlando in Milwaukee.

Dwight Howard scored 21 points and hauled in 11 rebounds and Keith Bogans had a season-high 19 points for Orlando.

In Memphis, Tracy McGrady scored 33 points as the Houston Rockets pulled away for a 98-90 victory over the Grizzlies.

Spanish star Pau Gasol had 30 points and 13 rebounds for Memphis.

Neale Graham
FIBA