Nuggets end Lakers’ winning streak in 126-133 defeat

LOS ANGELES — Chauncey Billups scored a career-high 39 points, including nine 3-pointers, and the Denver Nuggets defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 126-113 Friday night, ending the Lakers’ eight-game home winning streak.

Billups was 12 of 20 from the floor, 9 of 13 from 3-point range and made 6 of 8 free throws to go with eight assists for the Nuggets, who played without Carmelo Anthony for the seventh straight game because of a sprained left ankle.

Billups scored 21 points in the third quarter alone, the most against the Lakers in one period since Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia 76ers [team stats] had 23 in a game in February 1966. Billups’ nine 3-pointers were the second-most ever against the Lakers.

Kobe Bryant scored 33 points on his sprained left ankle, but the first-place Lakers proved no match for the Western Conference’s No. 2 team, the one they beat in last year’s conference finals en route to their 15th NBA championship.

Hawks 91, Bulls 81

ATLANTA — Josh Smith posted his second career triple-double with 18 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists for Atlanta.

Joe Johnson had 18 points and Jamal Crawford added 17 for the Hawks, who regrouped after trailing by six to open the fourth quarter.

Luol Deng had 20 points and eight rebounds, and Derrick Rose scored 19 points for the Bulls, who lost their third straight.

Timberwolves 117, Mavericks 108

DALLAS — Jonny Flynn scored 19 points and Minnesota finished the game on a 13-2 run to snap a 13-game losing streak against Dallas.

Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki did not start after he was late for the team’s shootaround before the game. The nine-time All-Star finished with 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

Kevin Love had 17 points and 11 rebounds, and Al Jefferson [stats] and Ryan Hollins each added 15 points for the Timberwolves, who have won three straight for the first time this season.

Celtics [team stats] 96, Nets 87

BOSTON — Ray Allen scored 26 points, Rajon Rondo [stats] added 17, and Eddie House scored all 10 of his points in the fourth quarter as Boston rallied to win its third straight.

The Nets led 73-72 through three quarters, putting the Celtics in danger of losing to a team that had won just four games.

Brook Lopez scored 19 points and Devin Harris added 17 for New Jersey, which fell to 4-45 with its fifth straight loss.

Suns 114, Kings 102

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Steve Nash had 23 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds to help Phoenix complete a perfect four-game road trip.

Amare Stoudemire scored 30 points and had nine rebounds for the Suns, who last swept a road trip of at least four games in December 2006. Phoenix has a season-long five-game winning streak after losing seven of its previous nine games.

Donte Green scored a career-high 31 points for Sacramento.

Wizards 92, Magic 91

ORLANDO, Fla. — Caron Butler made a 19-foot jumper with 0.5 seconds remaining, capping Washington’s comeback from a 21-point deficit.

Butler finished with 31 points and nine rebounds, and Randy Foye had 22 points and seven assists for the Wizards, who snapped the Magic’s win streak at four.

Vince Carter scored 21 points and Dwight Howard had 20 points and 18 rebounds for Orlando.

76ers 101, Hornets 94

NEW ORLEANS — Thaddeus Young made his first seven shots and finished with 19 points to lead Philadelphia over short-handed New Orleans.

Andre Iguodala scored 14 points, Rodney Carney added 13 and Samuel Dalembert had 16 rebounds for the 76ers, who stretched their winning streak to a season-high three games.

Peja Stojakovic had 23 points for New Orleans, which has without All-Star point guard Chris Paul, who had arthroscopic knee surgery on Thursday and will be out four-to-six weeks.

Pacers 107, Pistons 83

INDIANAPOLIS — Danny Granger scored 25 points and Brandon Rush added 16 to help Indiana to one of its most lopsided wins over Detroit.

Only a last-second layup by Detroit prevented the Pacers from tying the franchise record for its biggest win over the Pistons, a 26-point blowout in 1995.

Ben Gordon scored 26 points and Rodney Stuckey added 16 for the Pistons.

Bucks 114, Knicks 107

NEW YORK — Brandon Jennings scored 19 of his 22 points in the second half, and reserve Ersan Ilyasova added a career-high 25 for Milwaukee in place of starting center Andrew Bogut, who was forced to leave midway through the first quarter with a migraine.

Jennings also had eight assists as the Bucks won their fourth in five games.

David Lee had a season-high 32 points and grabbed 15 rebounds for the Knicks, who lost for the eighth time in 11 games. Reserve Al Harrington scored 22 points.

Rockets 101, Grizzlies 83

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Aaron Brooks had 19 points and eight rebounds and Houston handed Memphis its fourth loss in five games.

Trevor Ariza and Carl Landry finished with 17 points apiece, and Luis Scola added 12 points for the Rockets, who have won three of four.

Marc Gasol led the Grizzlies with 17 points and eight rebounds and Zach Randolph finished with 14 points. Sam Young, Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo each had 11 points but were a combined 8 of 23 from the field.