DALLAS: Jason Kidd and the Dallas Mavericks both broke out of slumps to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 109-100 in the NBA Wednesday. The win ended Mavericks' six-game losing streak. Kidd was 1-for-14 in shooting over the previous two games but went 8-fo-12 to notch a season-high 21 points, while Jason Terry and Shawn Marion provided 22 points each from the bench. The club made a similar turnaround, going from five straight losses by at least 10 points each - their worst such stretch since their woeful days in the mid-1990s - to a convincing win over the two-time defending champions. Nuggets 112, Thunder 107: In Denver, Carmelo Anthony scored 35 points to help Denver down Oklahoma City, hours after New Jersey Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov announced he would no longer pursue the All-Star forward. Chauncey Billups and Nene each added 16 points for the Nuggets, who grabbed the lead for good early in the fourth quarter of a game that was close all the way. After months of talks aimed at bringing Anthony from Denver to New Jersey, the Nets' new owner announced that his team was ending the drawn-out trade talks. Spurs 104, Raptors 95: In San Antonio, the hosts rallied from an 11-point halftime deficit to beat Toronto and record their seventh straight victory. DeJuan Blair had 22 points and 11 rebounds while Manu Ginobili added 23 points for the Spurs, who improved their NBA-best record to 36-6, their best ever after 42 games. DeMar DeRozan scored 28 points for the Raptors, who lost their fifth straight. The Spurs surged into the lead midway through the third quarter after a 15-4 run to start the second half had tied the game. Celtics 86, Pistons 82: In Boston, Ray Allen hit a jump shot with 25 seconds left to give Boston its first lead of the second half as the Celtics beat Detroit. Paul Pierce scored 22 points for the Celtics, who won their fourth straight. Rodney Stuckey scored 15 points for the Pistons, who led by eight with 8 minutes left but did not score over the game's last 2:43. Hornets 103, Grizzlies 102, OT: In New Orleans, Marcus Thornton broke up an inbounds pass with 14 seconds left in overtime and then finished a fast break with a reverse layup, giving New Orleans a thrilling home win over Memphis, extending its winning streak to six. Chris Paul had 20 points and 12 assists, and corralled the critical loose ball that was tipped by both Thornton and Trevor Ariza. Paul then raced up court and passed to Emeka Okafor, who bounced a pass to Thornton under the hoop. Rudy Gay, who had 22 points, had one last shot to win it for Memphis, but his jumper near the top of the key bounced off the back rim. Magic 99, 76ers 98, OT: In Orlando, Jason Richardson converted a 4-point play with 17 seconds left as Orlando pipped Philadelphia in overtime. Elsewhere it was: Rockets 104, Knicks 89; Warriors 110, Pacers 108; Trail Blazers 94, Kings 90, OT; Suns 106, Cavaliers 98; Bucks 100, Wizards 87; Clippers 126, Timberwolves 111.
