Allen Iverson has fit in well with the Detroit Pistons. Chauncey Billups has been every bit as good – or better – with the Denver Nuggets.
Iverson, acquired from Denver for Billups, Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb, scored 23 points in Detroit’s 96-89 home victory over Cleveland on Wednesday night.
“It’s early, but it’s exciting,” Iverson said.
Detroit ended Cleveland’s eight-game winning streak and has won four of its last five after dropping its first two games with Iverson in the lineup.
“It’s way too early to know anything about them,” Cleveland’s LeBron James said.
Billups scored 22 points in Denver’s 91-81 road victory over San Antonio. The Nuggets have won four straight to improve to 7-1 since adding Billups.
“We’ve had a tough eight or nine games where we’ve played some tough teams in some tough buildings, and we’ve been successful,” Billups said. “We’ve just got to try and continue to build on what we’ve done.”
ans 96; the Los Angeles Clippers 108, Oklahoma City 88; and Atlanta 91, Washington 87.
In Auburn Hills, Mich., Rasheed Wallace had 10 of his 21 points during the fourth quarter, and Richard Hamilton added 15 points.
James had 25 points, but was 8-of-21 from the field and missed all four of his 3-point attempts.
“That happens in this league,” James said. “You have good games and bad games.”
In San Antonio, Carmelo Anthony added 21 points, Kenyon Martin had 18 points and Nene finished with 16. The Nuggets held Tim Duncan to 12 points and snapped San Antonio’s three-game winning streak.
“Denver has got a good club that can compete with anybody,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “Chauncey is a great addition.”
Raptors 101, Heat 95
At Miami, Andrea Bargnani scored a season-high 25 points, Jermaine O’Neal added 16 points and 17 rebounds, and Toronto overcame Dwyane Wade’s huge night to beat Miami for the second time in four days.
Wade finished with season highs of 40 points and 11 assists, and added a career-best five blocks. Since blocks became an official stat, the only other player to have a 40-10-5 effort was Alvan Adams of the Phoenix Suns, who had 47 points, 12 assists and five blocks against Buffalo on Feb. 22, 1977, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Trail Blazers 116, Bulls 74
ocks in his home debut for Portland and the Trail Blazers built a 30-point, first-half lead.
Sidelined all of last season by a knee injury after being drafted first overall, Oden entered the game to a standing ovation with 4:28 left in the first quarter – and dunked 21 seconds later. The 7-footer had his third double-double in four games after missing six of Portland’s first seven games because of a foot injury.
Brandon Roy scored 20 points to help Portland improve to 6-2 in its last eight games.
Timberwolves 102, 76ers 96
At Minneapolis, Al Jefferson scored six of his 25 points in the final 3 1/2 minutes to help Minnesota snap an eight-game losing streak.
Craig Smith had a season-high 21 points and matched a career best with five assists. Minnesota won for the first time since the season opener against Sacramento.
Elton Brand had 19 points and 13 rebounds for Philadelphia.
Mavericks 96, Rockets 86
At Houston, Jason Terry scored 31 points, and Dirk Nowitzki added 24 points and 12 rebounds for Dallas.
Tracy McGrady scored 16 points for the Rockets. Dallas played without Josh Howard (left ankle), while Houston was missing Yao Ming (left foot).
Jazz 105, Bucks 94
At Salt Lake City, C.J. Miles scored a season-high 25 points for Utah, and Carlos Boozer added 20 points and 11 rebounds before leaving because of a strained quadriceps.
o, playing point guard at times for the depleted Jazz, had 16 points, seven rebounds, five steals and four blocks to help Utah stay undefeated at home and beat the Bucks for the eighth straight time.
Richard Jefferson scored 25 points, and Andrew Bogut had 16 points and 20 rebounds for Milwaukee.
Kings 105, Hornets 96
At New Orleans, John Salmons scored 29 points, and Bobby Jackson had all eight of his points in the final 5:10 for Sacramento.
Sacramento played without leading scorer Kevin Martin (left ankle) and starting forward Mikki Moore (right ankle). David West scored 22 points for New Orleans, and Chris Paul had 20 points and 15 assists.
Clippers 108, Thunder 88
At Oklahoma City, Cuttino Mobley scored 12 of his season-high 23 points for Los Angeles during a 23-4 third-quarter run.
Mobley also had a career-high seven steals, and Chris Kaman scored a season-high 25 points and added 14 rebounds for Los Angeles (2-9). Kevin Durant had 18 points for the Thunder (1-11).
Hawks 91, Wizards 87
At Atlanta, Marvin Williams hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 26 seconds left to help Atlanta snap a four-game losing streak.
Willams had 21 points and matched his career high with 14 rebounds, while Mike Bibby led the Hawks with 25 points. Caron Butler had 32 points for Washington.
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