USA - Gasol hots up as Grizzlies beat Raptors

NEW YORK (NBA) - Pau Gasol is starting to play as if he’s fully recovered from his foot operation and that’s very good news for the struggling Memphis Grizzlies. 

The most valuable player at the FIBA World Championship for Spain had 22 points and 11 rebounds as Memphis won 110-104 over the Toronto Raptors.

Mike Miller led Memphis with 27 points while Chucky Atkins had 16 and dished out nine assists and fellow reserve Stromile Swift added 15 points and a season-high 14 rebounds.

The win was coach Tony Barone’s first since taking over from Mike Fratello, who was fired on Thursday.

"Everyone was excited tonight," Gasol said. "When you're up and you're winning, you enjoy it. It's no fun to go out and get your butt kicked time after time. So it's fun when you kick someone else's butt. It feels good, and people enjoy it."

Gasol suffered a partial fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his left foot at the FIBA World Championship and missed the early part of the NBA campaign.

Though Memphis lost so many games with Gasol out that they are almost certainly out of the Western Conference play-off picture, the Grizzlies will claim a lot more wins now that their talisman is back.

Deng dominates for Bulls

The Chicago Bulls hit the Cleveland Cavaliers with a one-two British punch in a 103-92 comeback win.

Sudan-born Luol Deng, who recently received his British passport, scored a career-high 32 points and grabbed six rebounds and London-born Ben Gordon poured in 21 as the Bulls posted a 103-92 triumph.

The Bulls trailed 67-60 when Larry Hughes made a 16-foot jumper with 7:16 left in the third quarter. However, Chicago went on a 24-0 run over the next 9:50 to take a commanding 84-67 lead with nine and a half minutes left in the final period.

It's Okur and out for Trail Blazers

Turkey international Mehmet Okur scored 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds as the Utah Jazz posted a 96-86 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Carlos Boozer had 19 points and Russia national team star Andrei Kirilenko added 14 and three blocks for Utah, who rebounded from a 106-83 loss to fellow Western Conference power San Antonio on Thursday.

"It was a terrible loss for us versus the Spurs, but we just tried to come out here and be more active and play good defense," Okur said. "I think we did a pretty good job."

Morrison, Bobcats break on through at Pacers

Rookie Adam Morrison scored a career-high 30 points and Raymond Felton dished out a career-high 19 assists as the Charlotte Bobcats posted a 113-102 victory over the Indiana Pacers.

Emeka Okafor had 19 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and added five blocks for Charlotte, who earned their first-ever win at Conseco Fieldhouse after four initial losses.

Morrison shot nine of 17 from the field and hit both of his three-point attempts for the Bobcats, who shot 50% (37-of-74) and have won two straight following a three-game losing streak.

Felton's 19 assists surpassed the 16 he accrued against New York on December 16.

Matt Carroll, who had a career-high 27 points in the Bobcats' triple-overtime win against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, scored 18 points, including four of seven from three-point range for Charlotte, who have earned six of their nine victories this season against teams with winning records.

Nets take the Mikki against Timberwolves

Mikki Moore and Richard Jefferson were catalysts for the New Jersey Nets.

Moore scored a career-high 20 points on nine of nine shooting and Jefferson added 23 to lead the Nets to a 100-92 triumph over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Moore, who has played for seven different teams in nine seasons, was moved into the starting lineup after Serbian center Nenad Krstic suffered a season-ending knee injury on December 22. He had scored just 13 points in his first three starts before providing the spark for New Jersey.

"It feels great," Moore said. "I always play hard when I play against KG (Kevin Garnett). We're both from South Carolina and I respect him, so I try to bring my best game."

Code Redd for Wizards at Milwaukee

Michael Redd and Ruben Patterson helped the Milwaukee Bucks stay perfect at home in December.

Redd scored 28 points and Patterson added 21 to lead the Bucks to a 119-102 triumph over the Washington Wizards.

The Bucks, who improved to 7-0 at home in December, took control of the game in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Wizards, 37-17. Milwaukee opened the final period with an 8-0 spurt capped by Redd's jumper with 10:07 to play.

Magic men overpower Wade-less Heat

The Orlando Magic took advantage of the Miami Heat's injury woes to snap their four-game losing streak.

Dwight Howard of Team USA scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and Trevor Ariza added 16 and 10 off the bench to lead the Magic to a 97-68 pounding of the Heat, who were without Dwyane Wade for the second consecutive night.

"It was great, we needed a victory," Howard said. "We seemed to be stuck on 17 (wins) for like forever. We really needed this one."

Terry leads Mavs stampede of Hornets

Jason Terry scored 25 points and dished out six assists as the Mavericks defeated the New Orleans Hornets for the 21st consecutive time, posting a 94-80 victory.

All-Star Dirk Nowitzki had 17 points and Josh Howard added 15 for Dallas, who have won nine straight games and continue to lead the NBA with a 23-7 record.

Kings rule against Warriors

Kevin Martin and the Sacramento Kings took care of the Golden State Warriors and they did not waste any time in doing so.

Martin scored 25 points and the Kings used an early run to down the Warriors, 116-96, in easy fashion.

Sacramento trailed, 22-16, late in the first quarter, but embarked on a 23-3 tear that carried over to the second quarter and gave the Kings a 39-25 lead midway through the second period.

Mike Bibby and Quincy Douby each scored 21 points for the Kings, who shot 45% (38 of 84) from the floor.

By PA Sport