DENVER: J.R. Smith's 26 points helped Denver beat the Memphis Grizzlies 120-107 Tuesday, only hours after the Nuggets finalized a blockbuster deal that sent Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups to the New York Knicks. Tony Allen had 26 points and O.J. Mayo added 21 for the Grizzlies, who had their four-game winning streak halted. The Nuggets had only nine players on the bench following a three-team trade that also involved Minnesota. In the 13-player swap, the Knicks picked up Anthony, Billups, Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter and Renaldo Balkman from Denver. But New York had to pay a steep price, sending Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov and a 2014 first-round draft pick to the Nuggets, who get additional picks and cash. Denver also acquired center Kosta Koufos from the Timberwolves. Lakers 104, Hawks 80: At Los Angeles, all-Star game MVP Kobe Bryant scored 20 points, and Pau Gasol added 14 points and 10 rebounds, as Los Angeles ended its three-game skid with an easy victory over struggling Atlanta. Shannon Brown scored 15 points as the two-time defending NBA champions got right back into form after stumbling into their hometown All-Star weekend with increasingly embarrassing road losses to Orlando, Charlotte and league-worst Cleveland. All-Star Joe Johnson scored 14 points for the Hawks, who opened a five-game road trip with their fourth loss in five games. Celtics 115, Warriors 93: At Oakland, California, Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo each came close to a triple-double as Boston picked up right where it left off before the All-Star break with a victory over Golden State. Garnett had 24 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, and Rondo had 19 points, 15 assists and six rebounds to help the Celtics stay atop the Eastern Conference standings and break a six-game losing streak at Golden State. Dorell Wright scored 19 points and Stephen Curry had 18 for the Warriors. Heat 117, Kings 97: At Miami, LeBron James scored 31 points and Dwyane Wade added 23 as Miami opened its post-All-Star schedule with an easy win over Sacramento. Chris Bosh had a 22-point, nine-rebound night and Mario Chalmers added 14 points for Miami, which won for the 11th time in its last 12 games. The Heat made seven straight shots on the way to shooting 64 percent in the opening quarter, setting the stage for a rout. Samuel Dalembert had 18 points and 13 rebounds off the bench for the Kings. Thunder 111, Clippers 88: At Oklahoma City, Jeff Green scored 22 points and Kevin Durant added 21 as Oklahoma spoiled Blake Griffin's return to his hometown by beating Los Angeles. Griffin made a run at his first career triple-double but came up two assists shy. He followed his slam dunk title and rare All-Star appearance by a rookie by amassing 28 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, but the Clippers sorely missed him when he was out of the game. Bobcats 114, Raptors 101: At Charlotte, North Carolina, D.J. Augustin had 23 points and eight assists as Charlotte cruised past listless Toronto despite losing top scorer Stephen Jackson to a strained left hamstring. Pacers 113, Wizards 96: At Washington, Danny Granger had 21 points and 10 rebounds as Indiana piled on the fast-break points to open the season's homestretch with a rout of Washington. Rockets 108, Pistons 100: At Auburn Hills, Michigan, rookie forward Patrick Patterson scored a career-high 20 points, including seven in a row late in the fourth quarter as Houston pulled away from Detroit. Bucks 94, Timberwolves 88: At Milwaukee, Brandon Jennings scored 27 points and made five free throws down the stretch to lead Milwaukee over Minnesota.
