USA - Bargnani is dino-mite for Raptors

ORLANDO (NBA) - Italy star Andrea Bargnani scored 15 of his season-high 23 points in the second half as the Toronto Raptors ended a four-game losing streak with a 91-84 victory over the struggling Orlando Magic. Bargnani, the first overall pick in the 2006 draft, shot 8-of-16 from the field, including 5-of-8 from the arc.

Toronto held a 65-60 lead entering the fourth quarter before the 21-year-old drained four three-pointers to hold off the Magic, who have lost five of seven since a six-game winning streak.

Carlos Arroyo scored 22 points and Dwight Howard had 17 and 13 rebounds for Orlando, who dropped to 8-4 at home. Shawn Marion collected 23 points and 13 rebounds as the Phoenix Suns extended their winning streak to 12 games by posting a 99-89 victory over the Miami Heat.

Steve Nash recorded his seventh straight double-double with 18 points and 11 assists for the Suns (15-6), whose winning streak is their longest since a franchise-record 14-game run in December 1992. The Suns had a few tense moments, but continued their winning ways at the expense of the Heat, who struggled without Dwyane Wade after the superstar had a pair of wisdom teeth removed on Tuesday.

Alonzo Mourning scored a season-high 19 points and Udonis Haslem added 14 for the Heat, who shot just 40% (33-of-83) and made just 4-of-19 three-pointers. Brazilian Anderson Varejao was on song as the Cleveland Cavaliers posted a 104-101 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. The forward backed up the irrepressible LeBron James (22 points, eight rebounds and seven assists) with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Larry Hughes also added 16 points and grabbed a key steal with 28 seconds remaining to secure an eighth win in nine against the Bobcats.

Adam Morrison scored 16 points and May added 15 and 13 rebounds for Charlotte, who shot 47% (41-of-88) and slumped to a fourth straight defeat.

France's Tony Parker had 23 points and Spaniard Manu Ginobili added 12 for San Antonio in their 95-82 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Parker and Ginobili combined to shoot 13-of-28 from the field in support of Tim Duncan, who top-scored with 24 points.

Duncan, who had 11-of-18 shooting, and Parker each scored six points in the run for San Antonio.

Kevin Garnett and Mark Blount each scored 19 points for the Timberwolves, who received just 10 points from their starting backcourt of Mike James and Ricky Davis.

Vince Carter scored 36 points and Jason Kidd recorded another triple-double as the New Jersey Nets pulled away for a 108-95 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. Carter made six three-pointers and 12-of-23 shots from the field, while Kidd collected 10 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds en route to his fifth triple-double of the season and 80th in his career.

The Bucks were within 79-77 with 10:48 remaining, but the Nets took control as Nenad Krstic scored 13 points and Mikki Moore 12 to move New Jersey to the top of the Eastern Conference Atlantic Division.

The Utah Jazz hold a similar position in Western Conference Northwest Division as they snapped a three-game road losing streak with a 105-86 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Deron Williams tied a career high 28 points and handed out 14 assists, Carlos Boozer contributed 28 points and 15 rebounds and Turkey star Mehmet Okur sank four three-pointers and scored 18 points for Utah.

Germany's Dirk Nowitzki collected 23 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists and Josh Howard added 29 points as the Dallas Mavericks used a decisive fourth-quarter run to claim a 110-101 victory over LA Lakers.

Jason Terry had 26 points and nine assists for the Mavericks, who shot a blistering 60% (39-of-65) from the field and 28-of-33 from the line as their free-flowing offense was too much to handle for the Lakers.

Kobe Bryant managed to score 33 points on 9-of-18 shooting, but the Lakers struggled when the Lakers turned up the wick.

Nowitzki was 8-of-14 from the floor and 7-of-10 from the line, while Terry shot 8-of-15 and 8-of-8 at the line.

Jermaine O'Neal scored 26 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to power the Indiana Pacers to a 101-90 win over the Detroit Pistons, while the Memphis Grizzlies woeful campaign continued with an 85-79 home loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.

Allen Iverson's self-imposed absence hurt the Philadelphia 76ers as Ryan Gomes and Paul Pierce scored 18 points apiece as the Boston Celtics overwhelmed the Philadelphia 76ers with a 101-81 victory.

Ben Wallace had season highs of 15 points and 20 rebounds to go along with five blocks as the Chicago Bulls coasted to a 99-84 victory over the Seattle SuperSonics.

Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison led the way as the Washington Wizards won for the eighth time in 11 home games with a 120-91 victory over the Denver Nuggets.

Eddy Curry kept up his recent run of form with 20 points and 10 rebounds and Jared Jeffries added 15 points as the New York Knicks used a balanced attack to claim a 94-82 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.

PA Sport