Bobcats snap Boston's 9-game streak

BOSTON: The Charlotte Bobcats handed the Boston Celtics only their fourth loss of the season, ending their nine-game winning streak in a 95-83 victory on Wednesday.

Jason Richardson scored 34 points and grabbed nine rebounds to propel the Bobcats to the upset win as Charlotte won for just the second time in 11 road games this season.

Boston lost for just the second time in 18 home games and slipped to 29-4.

The Celtics trailed 45-41 at the half and the Bobcats continued to frustrate Boston, never allowing the Celtics to get to within seven points in the fourth quarter.

Boston's only other loss at home all year was to Detroit on Dec 19.

Kevin Garnett had 24 points and eight rebounds for Boston, who were missing All-Star guard Ray Allen through injury.

In Atlanta, Joe Johnson scored 27 points to lead five Atlanta scorers in double figures and the Hawks held off a late comeback to beat the Cavaliers 90-81 for their first home win over Cleveland since 2003.

The Hawks ended a four-game losing streak and snapped Cleveland's four-game winning streak, giving the Cavaliers their first loss in 2008.

The Hawks ended the Cavaliers' six-game winning streak in Atlanta. The Cavaliers' last loss in Atlanta was Nov 22, 2003.

James, who also had 10 rebounds and six assists, scored 14 points in the fourth quarter - more than any teammate managed in the game.

Josh Smith had 19 points and Marvin Williams and Josh Childress each added 12 for Atlanta. Rookie Al Horford had 10 points and 15 rebounds.

In New York, Yao Ming scored 36 points, and the Houston Rockets got big final quarters from Rafer Alston and Luis Scola to beat New York 101-92 for their season-high fourth straight victory.

Alston added 20 points, eight assists and six rebounds for the Rockets, who seized control immediately after Knicks coach Isiah Thomas was ejected in the opening minute of the final quarter when he came onto the floor to argue with referee Eric Lewis.

The Rockets improved to 6-2 since All-Star guard Tracy McGrady went out of the lineup with a strained tendon in his left knee. Scola finished with 19 points, nine in the final quarter.

Jamal Crawford scored 21 points, Nate Robinson had 16 and Stephon Marbury 15 for the Knicks, who won Tuesday in Chicago but failed to match their season high of two straight victories.

In East Rutherford, New Jersey, Richard Jefferson scored 28 points, and New Jersey cruised over Seattle SuperSonics 99-88 in a blowout that probably prevented Jason Kidd from recording a fourth straight triple-double.

Kidd finished with 16 points, 11 assists and five rebounds in a game in which he sat on the bench for the final 12 1/2 minutes.

Vince Carter added 18 points and eight rebounds as the Nets won for the eighth time in 10 games.

Johan Petro came off the bench and tied his career high with 22 points for Seattle, which lost its fifth in a row and seventh in eight games. Nick Collison tied his season-high with 18 points, while rookie Kevin Durant, who sprained an ankle against Cleveland on Tuesday night, added 15.

In Milwaukee, Mo Williams scored a season-high 35 points to help Milwaukee send Miami to its ninth straight loss with a 98-92 win.

Dwyane Wade scored 34 points to lead Miami, which extended its longest losing streak since dropping 12 in a row in the 2001-02 season and also lost its eighth straight on the road. Jason Williams scored a season-high 23 points in his first game since recovering from inflammation in his left knee.

Andrew Bogut scored 17 points to lead Milwaukee, which played without guard Michael Redd for the fourth game in a row because of a deep thigh bruise.

Agencies

(China Daily 01/11/2008 page24)