Sports News

ATLANTA (AP) Josh Smith spent most of the fourth quarter cheering on his teammates from the bench.

He was on the court, though, for the biggest play of the game.

After sitting for all but 44 seconds of the final period because of foul trouble, Smith soared through the lane to drop in a missed shot with 0.7 seconds remaining and the Atlanta Hawks won their seventh in a row, beating the Houston Rockets 105-103 Friday night to maintain the NBA's best record.

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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Cleveland's offense was stagnant, and the Indiana Pacers had turned a five-point halftime deficit into a five-point lead entering the fourth quarter.

The Cavaliers went back to their tried-and-true formula - LeBron, LeBron and more LeBron - and it got the usual result. James scored 10 of his season-high 40 points in the final 7:07, and Cleveland beat the Pacers 105-95 on Friday night. Read More...

BOSTON (AP) Kevin Garnett missed last season's playoff series against Orlando with a knee injury. Rasheed Wallace signed with Boston after it was over.

But the Magic made a key offseason pickup of their own. Read More...

ATLANTA (AP) Tracy McGrady is eager to play. The Houston Rockets say he'll have to wait.

The seven-time All-Star had microfracture surgery on his left knee in February, but insisted that he's fully recovered before Friday night's game against the streaking Atlanta Hawks. Read More...

DALLAS (AP) Jason Terry is accustomed to carrying the load for the Dallas bench.

With the Mavericks missing three starters, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year got some much needed help from his fellow reserves Friday night. Read More...

GREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) The New York Knicks won't sign Allen Iverson, believing any short-term gain would hinder their plans to build for the future.

Team president Donnie Walsh said Friday the team won't make any additions at this time despite its 2-9 record. He added the decision to pass on the former MVP had nothing to do with Iverson's ability to play or his character in the locker room. Read More...

LOS ANGELES (AP) The first player off the Los Angeles Clippers' bench led them in scoring, something that doesn't happen with this club except when there are injuries - which is most of the time.

Forward Rasual Butler had 27 points, Al Thornton added 18, and the Clippers withstood an early scoring spree from Carmelo Anthony to beat the Denver Nuggets 106-99 on Friday night. Read More...

MILWAUKEE (AP) Bucks coach Scott Skiles rarely gives glowing compliments. Even he's having a tough time containing his excitement for rookie Brandon Jennings.

"You'd be hard pressed to find a rookie's first 10 games better than this," Skiles said. "Maybe somebody has, but he's had as good a 10-game start as anybody I've been aware of in my 20-plus years in the league." Read More...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) Devin Harris is expected to play Saturday, a sorely needed boost for the winless New Jersey Nets.

A team spokesman says Harris will come off the bench Saturday when the Nets (0-12) host the New York Knicks. Read More...

LOS ANGELES (AP) Clippers longtime play-by-play announcer Ralph Lawler and color analyst Michael Smith were suspended one game by the Fox Sports Prime Ticket cable network for their comments about Memphis center Hamed Haddadi.

Lawler and Smith made their off-the-cuff comments about the Iranian-born center during Wednesday night's telecast from Memphis. The on-air banter offended a viewer who e-mailed Fox to complain. Read More...