The Chicago Bulls overcame the absence of league MVP Derrick Rose to earn a 106-102 win over the Miami Heat Wednesday with third-string point guard John Lucas III scoring 24 points to emerge as an unlikely game winner. Lucas stung Miami with 11 points in the fourth quarter, including two clinching free throws that set the final score with six seconds left. “I'm a shooter and they're free throws so they're supposed to go in,” Lucas told reporters after making 9 of 12 shots from the field. Rose sat out the game due to a groin injury but the Bulls still managed to open up a 3 1/2-game lead over the Heat in the Eastern Conference. Dwyane Wade scored a game-high 36 points and LeBron James put up 35 but the Heat (31-11) fell behind by 17 in the third quarter and struggled to claw their way back. Spurs 122, Magic 111: Dwight Howard lost perhaps his last game with the Orlando Magic, bowing to the San Antonio Spurs. Howard had 22 points and 12 rebounds on the eve of the NBA trade deadline, and his refusal to give the Magic the ultimate assurance he'll be back may weaken Orlando's hesitation to trade their superstar. Tony Parker had 31 points and 12 assists, and Tim Duncan had 21 points and 13 rebounds as the Spurs closed a seven-game homestand by hosting the NBA's biggest drama. Knicks 121 Trail Blazers 79: Amare Stoudemire made all seven shots in the first half, Carmelo Anthony passed and shot well, and the Knicks shook off the surprising departure of coach Mike D'Antoni to rout the Portland Trail Blazers, snapping a six-game losing streak. Anthony had 16 points. Stoudemire finished with 17 points. Bucks 115, Cavaliers 105: Drew Gooden had 15 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists for his second career triple-double, and the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-105. Ersan Ilyasova had 22 points for the Bucks while Kyrie Irving had 28 points for the Cavaliers. Rockets 107, Bobcats 87: Luis Scola scored 23 points, Goran Dragic had 14 points and 10 assists and the Houston Rockets routed the NBA-worst Charlotte Bobcats . Samuel Dalembert added 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Jordan Hill scored 14 and grabbed eight rebounds for the Rockets. Lakers 107, Hornets 101 (OT): Kobe Bryant scored 33 points, and the Los Angeles Lakers won their fourth straight game and second in a row in overtime, over the New Orleans Hornets. Pacers 111, 76ers 94: Danny Granger scored 20 points to help Indiana beat the Atlantic Division-leading Philadelphia 76ers. David West scored 18 points, George Hill had 17 and Roy Hibbert added 14 points for the Pacers. Pistons 124, Kings 112: Rodney Stuckey scored 35 points and Greg Monroe had 32 for the Detroit Pistons, who used a huge third-quarter effort to pull away from the Sacramento Kings for victory. Tyreke Evans scored 23 points for the Kings. Other results: Celtics 105, Warriors 103; Suns 120, Jazz 111; Clippers 96, Hawks 82; Nets 98, Toronto 84.
