Boston, MA (Betting Express) - Paul Pierce scored 19 points and Al Jefferson added 10 with 11 rebounds as the Boston Celtics escaped with an 84-83 victory over Golden State at FleetCenter. Boston's Gary Payton returned to the starting lineup after sitting out Monday's game against New Orleans and contributed 13 points with five assists. Payton, who missed the game with a strained left hamstring, had played in 305 straight contests. Golden State's Troy Murphy posted his eighth straight double-double with 15 points and 16 rebounds. Clifford Robinson had 18 points for Golden State, which has lost three straight.

Final Score: Toronto 96, Sacramento 93

Toronto, ON (Betting Express) - Chris Bosh scored a team-high 23 points, Jalen Rose added 20 and Toronto held on to beat Sacramento, 96-93, at the Air Canada Centre. Morris Peterson added 19 points, while Eric Williams and Matt Bonner each netted 10 for Toronto, which has won two straight after a three-game slide. Mike Bibby led all players with a game-high 32 points for the Kings. Brad Miller collected 14 points and a career-high 19 rebounds for Sacramento, which had its three-game winning streak snapped. Chris Webber contributed 13 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter.

Final Score: Charlotte 102, Minnesota 84

Charlotte, NC (Betting Express) - Gerald Wallace had 21 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and sparked a late run to lead the Charlotte Bobcats to a 102-84 win over the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves. Emeka Okafor regained his double- double form, scoring 18 points and adding 10 rebounds, for the Bobcats, who used a 20-1 burst to end a six-game losing streak. The rookie had a string of 19 straight double-doubles end in a loss to the Cavs on Monday night. Kevin Garnett had 23 points and 20 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who have dropped four straight and eight of 11. Sam Cassell added 20 points and six assists, but left the game in the third quarter with an ankle injury and when he returned late in the fourth didn't score another point.

Final Score: Orlando 105, Seattle 87

Orlando, FL (Betting Express) - Steve Francis scored 25 of his game-high 33 points in the second half as Orlando snapped a four-game losing streak with a 105-87 victory over Seattle at TD Waterhouse Centre. Grant Hill contributed 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting for the Magic, who made good on a sizzling 61.5 percent (24-of-39) of their field-goal attempts after intermission to break open a close game. Francis added 11 rebounds and six assists in the win, while Hedo Turkoglu netted 14 points off the bench. Ray Allen poured in 30 points and Rashard Lewis compiled 20 along with 11 rebounds for the Sonics, who saw a six-game road winning streak come to an end and lost for the first time in four outings overall.

Final Score: Cleveland 101, Atlanta 85

Cleveland, OH (Betting Express) - LeBron James had 20 points, nine assists and six rebounds to lead Cleveland past Atlanta, 101-85, at Gund Arena. Zydrunas Ilgauskas poured in a game-high 28 points with nine boards for the Cavaliers, winners of four of their last five games. Jeff McInnis had 16 points and nine assists, while Ira Newble and Drew Gooden both had 10 points in the victory. Cleveland has won the last six meetings versus the Hawks, including the first three of the 2004-05 season. Antoine Walker paced the Hawks with 26 points and 10 rebounds. Al Harrington chipped in 16 points and nine boards for Atlanta, losers of five straight.

Final Score: Miami 102, New York 94

Miami, FL (Betting Express) - Shaquille O'Neal had 33 points and 18 rebounds to lead the Miami Heat to a 102-94 win over the New York Knicks at American Airlines Arena. Dwyane Wade added 21 points and nine assists for the Heat, who rebounded from a loss at home to Seattle on Monday to record their 15th win in 16 outings. Stephon Marbury had 28 points and eight assists for the Knicks, who have dropped two in a row after winning three straight. Kurt Thomas added 23 points and 12 boards for New York.

Final Score: Milwaukee 97, New Jersey 74

Milwaukee, WI (Betting Express) - Mike James and Joe Smith each netted 17 points, Desmond Mason added 16 and Milwaukee routed New Jersey, 97-74, at the Bradley Center. Michael Redd scored 13 points and dished out eight assists for the Bucks, who snapped a three-game slide. Erick Strickland contributed 10 points off the pine. Jabari Smith scored a game-high 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting for the Nets. Richard Jefferson added 16 points with 11 boards and Vince Carter contributed 15 points for New Jersey, which has dropped two straight and four of six.

Final Score: Chicago 95, New Orleans 89

New Orleans, LA (Betting Express) - Kirk Hinrich scored 19 points and Chicago withstood a late New Orleans comeback attempt to post a 95-89 victory over the Hornets at the New Orleans Arena. Eddy Curry racked up 17 points and nine rebounds while Luol Deng compiled 14 points and eight boards for the Bulls, who have won four of their last five games. Baron Davis netted 21 points in the Hornets' ninth loss in a row and 20th in 21 outings. Rodney Rogers contributed season-bests of 19 points and eight boards in his second game back from a near two-month stay on the injured list.

Final Score: Dallas 118, LA Lakers 104

Dallas, TX (Betting Express) - Jason Terry scored a season-high 28 points and Dirk Nowitzki added 25 to lead six Mavericks in double figures, as Dallas defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 118-104 at AmericanAirlines Center. Erick Dampier contributed 13 points and 13 rebounds for the Mavericks, who have won four straight games. Michael Finley had 16, Josh Howard added 15 and Devin Harris also reached double digits with 11 in the win. Kobe Bryant scored a game-high 32 points in the loss. Chris Mihm had 17 points and 10 rebounds and Jumaine Jones scored 10 points with 13 boards for Los Angeles, which has lost three of its last five games.

Final Score: Phoenix 108, Houston 98

Houston, TX (Betting Express) - Shawn Marion scored 15 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter and added nine rebounds to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 108-98 win over the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center. Amare Stoudemire posted 19 points and nine boards for the Suns, who shot 15- of-34 from three-point range on the way to their fourth straight win and 10th in 11 outings. Quentin Richardson tallied 18 points and 14 boards and Joe Johnson had 17 and 12 for Phoenix, which had a total of six players score in double figures. Tracy McGrady scored 24 points for the Rockets, who had a three-game win streak halted. Yao Ming tallied 14 points and 10 boards for Houston, which has lost four straight to Phoenix.

Final Score: Philadelphia 106, Utah 99

Salt Lake City, UT (Betting Express) - Kenny Thomas poured in a season-high 30 points to lead Philadelphia over Utah, 106-99 at the Delta Center. Philadelphia improved to 5-2 on its current eight-game road trip and will face Minnesota on Friday. Allen Iverson chipped in 23 points and dished out nine assists for the Sixers in the victory. Carlos Boozer scored a team-high 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Jazz, who continued to struggle, dropping their seventh straight contest and 10th decision in their last 11.

Final Score: LA Clippers 102, Portland 98

Los Angeles, CA (Betting Express) - Corey Maggette scored 15 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter and hit two free throws with 1:01 remaining to lift the Los Angeles Clippers to a 102-98 victory over Portland at the Staples Center. Maggette finished 8-of-12 from the field and 13-of-13 from the free throw line to lead the Clippers to their third straight win. Bobby Simmons and Elton Brand contributed 22 and 18 points, respectively, in the triumph. Derek Anderson topped the Trail Blazers with 15 points, while Damon Stoudamire compiled 14 along with six assists off the bench. Zach Randolph finished with 10 points, less than half of his season average, and pulled down nine boards for Portland, which has dropped four of five.