EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Brevin Knight scored a season-high 25 points and the Charlotte Bobcats snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 91-83 victory Wednesday night over the New Jersey Nets.

Jumaine Jones scored 15 points off the bench and Emeka Okafor added 14 for Charlotte, which avoided tying the NBA’s longest losing streak of the season set by Toronto and Atlanta.

New Jersey, which lost its third straight and fourth in a row at home, was led by Richard Jefferson’s 25 points. Vince Carter added 22.

Bulls 105, Raptors 94

TORONTO – Darius Songaila scored 18 points and the Chicago Bulls beat the Toronto Raptors for the 10th straight time, 105-94 on Wednesday night.

Seven Chicago players reached double figures in scoring. The Bulls shot 58 percent and went 9-for-17 from 3-point range. Chicago center Tyson Chandler left in the third quarter with what looked to be a knee injury. He lost his footing while trying to block a shot and was helped to the locker room.

76ers 106, Hawks 101

PHILADELPHIA – Allen Iverson scored 39 points, Chris Webber had 29 and the Philadelphia 76ers held off another spirited effort from the Atlanta Hawks in a 106-101 victory on Wednesday night.

Samuel Dalembert had 11 rebounds and two blocked shots, helping the Atlantic Division-leading Sixers to their fourth straight win and they moved over .500 for the first time since Nov. 29.

Al Harrington scored 27 points, Tyronn Lue had 21 and Joe Johnson 17 for the suddenly competitive Hawks.

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Pistons 109, Kings 98

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Chauncey Billups had 28 points and a career-high 19 assists and Richard Hamilton scored 36 points to lead the Detroit Pistons to a 109-98 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night.

The Pistons improved to 16-3, tying the 1996-97 team for the best start in franchise history. The Kings (10-13) had their three-game winning streak snapped.

Billups also beat Steve Nash’s 17 for the most assists in the league this season. Isiah Thomas was the last Piston with 19 assists, doing it against Orlando on Feb. 16, 1993.

Magic 105, Knicks 90

NEW YORK – Grant Hill made a key 3-pointer during a decisive run in his season debut for Orlando, and Dwight Howard had 23 points and 13 rebounds to help the Magic defeat the struggling New York Knicks 105-90 Wednesday night.

Hill missed Orlando’s first 19 games following surgery for a sports hernia on Oct. 31. He started and scored seven points in 22 minutes, and was on the floor late in the second quarter when the Magic took control for good.

Hedo Turkoglu scored 18 points and Pat Garrity added a season-high 17, and the duo helped Orlando end New York’s final comeback hopes with an impressive display of 3-point shooting.

Lakers 94, Grizzlies 79

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Kobe Bryant scored 27 points and the Los Angeles Lakers completed a successful, six-game road trip with a 94-79 victory Wednesday night over the Memphis Grizzlies.

The victory gave the Lakers a 5-1 record on the trip and snapped a five-game losing streak in Memphis. The Grizzlies dropped their third straight, their longest skid of the season.

Heat 100, Bucks 83

MILWAUKEE – Dwyane Wade scored 27 points and Gary Payton added 20 to give Miami Heat coach Pat Riley his second win in as many nights, a 100-83 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.

Wade and Payton exposed Milwaukee’s lack of perimeter defense, combining to go 17-for-26 from the field.


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