McGrady's 38 help Rockets end skid (AP) Updated: 2006-01-04 11:42 Josh Howard added 21 points and 10 rebounds as the Mavericks stretched their
winning streak against the Trail Blazers to seven.
Nowitzki established a franchise record in the fourth quarter with his 50th
consecutive free throw, breaking the mark of 49 set by Steve Nash from Dec.
2-20, 2002.
Zach Randolph's 19 points and 11 rebounds led the Trail Blazers, who have
lost 14 of 19. Ruben Patterson also scored 19 points.
The Mavericks held a 75-70 lead with 8:31 left when Terry made a 3-pointer as
the shot clock expired. On Dallas' next possession, Nowitzki's 3-pointer from
the right wing expanded the advantage to 81-70 with 8:04 remaining.
The Blazers never got closer than nine points the rest of the way.
Portland guard Sebastian Telfair was inactive for the 10th time this season,
sitting out with a sprained right thumb, and starting forward Viktor Khryapa
left the game in the second quarter after he dislocated a finger on his right
hand. Khryapa was back on the floor in the third quarter.
Darius Miles, the Blazers' second-leading scorer at 18.2 points per game,
remains inactive with a right knee injury.
Dallas led by as many as eight in the second quarter and held a 47-44
halftime edge behind Nowitzki's 12 points. The Mavericks made their last seven
shots of the third quarter, including a jumper and a 3-pointer by Terry on
consecutive possessions, and led 68-63 entering the fourth. The Blazers missed
their final five shots of the period.
Billups inspires Pistons to victory over Magic
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Chauncey Billups scored a regular season career-high 37
points as the Detroit Pistons won their 25th game of the season, downing the
Orlando Magic 108-99 in Auburn Hills on Tuesday.
Billups was 9-for-15
from the floor and had four three-pointers as the Pistons improved their
NBA-best record to 25-4.
He also added nine assists as the 2004 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player
increased his chances at an All-Star selection and possible regular season MVP
consideration later this year.
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