It was a Saturday night affair that felt as if it had a case of the Mondays for most of the first half. It was the Knicks, playing their fourth game in five nights, against a Pistons team that had lost four straight, including a Friday night defeat at the hands of the Miami Heat. The Pistons were also playing without their co-leading scorer and most consistent backcourt force, Rodney Stuckey, who was out with a sore left big toe. So after a 13-0 run late in the second quarter that helped the Knicks to a 12-point halftime lead at Madison Square Garden, they were presented with an option. They could give the Pistons a chance by regressing to plodding, stylized rugby, or they could cruise while playing something resembling entertaining basketball. They chose the more aesthetically pleasing course, winning in a rout by 101-79, bouncing back immediately after having a five-game winning streak snapped Friday night against the Toronto Raptors. Bulls 102, Raptors 101: Luol Deng's buzzer-beater in overtime gave Chicago a victory over the Toronto Raptors at the United Center Saturday as the Bulls earned their fourth consecutive win and their NBA-leading 40th of the season. Deng made a put-back shot for the Bulls as time expired after James Johnson blocked C.J. Watson's shot. The play was reviewed by the officials to confirm Deng had released the ball prior to the buzzer. Nets 102, Bobcats 89: Deron Williams scored 19 points and matched his season high with 14 assists as the Nets ended a five-game losing streak by beating Charlotte at the Prudential Center. Pacers 125, Bucks 104: The reserve guard George Hill scored a season-high 24 points to lead visiting Indiana past Milwaukee. Roy Hibbert added 16 points and 9 rebounds to help the Pacers bounce back from a loss at home to Phoenix. Ersan Ilyasova had 22 points and 8 rebounds for the Bucks. Monta Ellis, Milwaukee's recent trade acquisition, scored 11 points, struggling after scoring 9 in the first quarter. Spurs 89, Hornets 86: DeJuan Blair scored 23 points and Tim Duncan had four key points down the stretch as San Antonio prevailed in New Orleans. Mavericks 101, Rockets 99: Dirk Nowitzki scored 31 points, Jason Terry added 24 and Brandan Wright had a career-high 7 blocks to help Dallas to an overtime win in Houston. Clippers 101, Grizzlies 85: Blake Griffin had 20 points and 10 rebounds as Los Angeles ended its first three-game losing streak of the season with a dominating victory over Memphis. In another games it was: Hawks 95, Wizards 92 and Dallas 101, Houstons 99.
