Josh Howard looked sharp coming off a 13-game break after ankle surgery, scoring 18 of his 20 points in the second half to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a nervous 102-101 win over the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Tuesday. Howard scored 16 points during a stretch late in the third quarter and early in the fourth when Dallas went from being tied 66-66 to leading 88-79. The Mavericks had looked in control, but Phoenix made it interesting with three 3-pointers in the final 48 seconds. Celtics 98, Bucks 89: In Boston, the hosts won their eighth in a row, overcoming Milwaukee. Rajon Rondo had 13 assists and nine rebounds and scored all of his 11 points in the fourth quarter to guide the Celtics home, giving them a share of the overall NBA lead with Orlando. Kevin Garnett scored 25 to go with nine boards, as Boston scored 12 of the game's final 15 points after a tight contest. Andrew Bogut had 25 points and 14 rebounds for the Bucks, who suffered a fourth straight loss. Magic 97, Clippers 86: In Los Angeles, Orlando made it six straight by defeating Los Angeles. Dwight Howard had 25 points and 11 rebounds on his 24th birthday and Rashard Lewis added 17 points for the Magic, who also won an eighth straight road game, setting a new franchise record for a single season. Eric Gordon scored 21 points for the Clippers. Bobcats 107, Nuggets 95: In Charlotte, North Carolina, Gerald Wallace had 25 points and 16 rebounds as Charlotte snapped Denver's four-game winning streak. Stephen Jackson had 25 points, seven rebounds and six assists for the Bobcats, who outscored Denver 20-8 over the final 6 minutes. Denver's Carmelo Anthony had 34 points and seven rebounds. Grizzlies 111, Cavaliers 109, OT: In Memphis, Tennessee, Mike Conley drove past Shaquille O'Neal for a layup with 3 seconds left to give Memphis an overtime victory over Cleveland. Cleveland's LeBron James, who had 43 points and 13 rebounds, took the last shot, but his 30-footer hit the rim, snapping the Cavaliers' four-game winning streak. Zach Randolph led Memphis with 32 points and 14 rebounds, while O.J. Mayo scored 28. James' two free throws with 15 seconds left tied the game at 109. But on the ensuing possession, Conley drove to the right side of the basket, lofting it off the glass. The two teams were tied at 100 at the end of regulation. Cleveland had the final possession, but James fumbled a dribble, and by the time he gathered the ball, his desperation jump shot was short. Hornets 96, Kings 94: In New Orleans, David West had 24 points and 12 rebounds to lift New Orleans over Sacramento. Raptors 94, Timberwolves 88: In Toronto, the hosts finally got their first three-game winning trot of the season, downing Minnesota. Nets 103, Bulls 101: In Chicago, Devin Harris hit to the go-ahead basket with 15 seconds left to give New Jersey its first road win of the year, and only its second overall.
