LOS ANGELES – Shaquille O’Neal went 10-of-14 from the foul line and scored 32 points Sunday as the Lakers defeated the New Jersey Nets 94-88 in their first game since Kobe Bryant went out with a shoulder injury.

Gary Payton added 18 points for the Lakers, while Bryant and the team’s other injured star, Karl Malone, watched from the bench.

The Nets’ Jason Kidd missed his fourth straight game because of bruised left knee, hurt in a 100-83 loss to the Lakers in New Jersey on Feb. 29.

The Lakers took control in the fourth quarter of what had been a tight game. O’Neal’s three-point play capped an 8-2 spurt that increased the Lakers’ lead to 90-79 with 2:44 remaining.

Raptors 84, Hornets 76

TORONTO – Vince Carter had 26 points, including a buzzer-beater from just beyond halfcourt at the end of the third quarter, and the Toronto Raptors ended a seven-game home losing streak with a 84-76 victory over the New Orleans Hornets on Sunday.

Carter capped a 19-4 run in the third by making his 41-foot 3-pointer that hit off the backboard.

Toronto native Jamaal Magloire had a career-high 21 rebounds and 23 points for the Hornets, who have lost six of nine.

Chris Bosh had 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Raptors, losers of 11 of their previous 12 games.

Knicks 99, Wizards 86

WASHINGTON – Stephon Marbury had 24 points and 13 assists Sunday, and the New York Knicks’ frontcourt controlled the boards in a 99-86 victory over the Washington Wizards.

Marbury had six points

and an assist in a 12-0 run

that spanned the third and fourth quarters and put the Knicks firmly in control. Allan Houston added 23 points. as the Knicks won their third straight following six-game losing streak.

Gilbert Arenas scored 28 points, and Juan Dixon had 25 as the Wizards’ backcourt held its own, but Washington was outrebounded 35-23 through three quarters – including 11-4 on the offensive boards.

Knicks rookie reserve Mike Sweetney grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds, four more than his previous high. The Wizards also had no answer for big men Nazr Mohammed (15 points, seven rebounds) and Tim Thomas (18 points).

Rockets 101, Mavs 98

HOUSTON – Yao Ming scored 29 points, including five in the final 45 seconds, and the Houston Rockets snapped a six-game losing streak against the Dallas Mavericks with a 101-98 victory Sunday.

The Mavericks lost their third game in a row but almost fought back against the Rockets, who had to overcome 30 turnovers and a season high 20 steals by an opponent. Dirk Nowitzki nine steals.

Yao’s basket and free throw broke the final tie and gave Houston a 95-92 lead with 15 seconds left. However, a 3-pointer by Antoine Walker with 4.2 second left cut Houston’s lead to 98-97, before two free throws by Clarence Weatherspoon and one by Cuttino Mobley provided Houston’s final points.

Kings 107, Magic 90

ORLANDO, Fla. – Peja Stojakovic scored 12 of his 28 points in the third quarter, and the Sacramento Kings shook off their early sluggishness to defeat the Orlando Magic 107-90.

Mike Bibby had 26 points, while Brad Miller added 22 with 12 rebounds.

Chris Webber sat out, as the Kings didn’t want him to play on his surgically repaired left knee on consecutive nights. The Kings lost 102-96 at Miami on Saturday.

Grizzlies 95, Warriors 85

OAKLAND, Calif. – Jason Williams scored 13 of his 17 points during a decisive third-quarter run in the Memphis Grizzlies’ fifth straight victory, 95-85 over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night.

Bonzi Wells had 18 points for the Grizzlies. Memphis put on a show against the injury-depleted Warriors, falling behind by 12 in the third quarter before making a dynamic 30-7 run.

Pistons 86, Sonics 65

SEATTLE – Rasheed Wallace scored 18 points and the Detroit Pistons became the first team in the NBA’s shot-clock era to hold three consecutive opponents under 70 points with an 86-65 victory over the Seattle SuperSonics on Sunday night.

The Sonics’ 65 points tied the franchise low.

Ben Wallace had 12 points and 13 rebounds as the Pistons won for the seventh time in eight games.