Bulls lose in Rose’s comeback
NEW YORK — Carmelo Anthony scored a season-high 43 points, hitting a 3-pointer with 8.2 seconds left in overtime, as the New York Knicks spoiled a rusty Derrick Rose’s return to the lineup to beat the Chicago Bulls 100-99 on Sunday.
Rose scored 29 points after missing the previous 12 games with a strained right groin, but he shot only 8 of 26 from the field and missed a pair of free throws with 19 seconds left in regulation with the Bulls ahead by three.
Anthony made a 3-pointer eight seconds later to tie it, and scored the final five points of the extra period as the Knicks pulled out a thriller in a possible playoff preview.
The Bulls trailed by 21 in the first quarter, led by 10 in the fourth, then failed to put it away by missing four straight free throws in the final 34 seconds of regulation.
Despite having their starting five together for only the 11th time this season, the Bulls lost for the third time in four games, their NBA-best record falling to 43-14.
The Knicks increased their lead over Milwaukee to one game for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Heat 98, Pistons 75
At Miami, LeBron James scored 26 points, Chris Bosh finished with 22 points and nine rebounds, and Miami steadily pulled away to beat Detroit.
James Jones scored 18 on 6-for-8 shooting from 3-point range for Miami, which played without Dwyane Wade for the 11th time this season. Wade sat out with right ankle soreness, which the team said was caused by an awkward landing on a dunk attempt against Memphis on Friday night.
Detroit rookie Brandon Knight scored 16 for the Pistons.
Miami (40-15) pulled within two games of Chicago (43-14 ) for the best record in the East.
Celtics 103, 76ers 79
At Boston, Kevin Garnett scored 20 points and Rajon Rondo dished out double-digit assists for his 17th consecutive game, finishing with 15 to help lead Boston over Philadelphia.
Brandon Bass and Avery Bradley each added 18 points, and Paul Pierce had 17 as the Celtics won for the seventh time in nine games, improving their Atlantic Division lead to three games over both the 76ers and Knicks.
Nikola Vucevic had 14 points and Andre Iguodala added 13 for the 76ers, who have dropped 10 of 14 to fall out of first place and are now competing for the final playoff spot in the East. They are tied with the Knicks for seventh place, one game ahead of Milwaukee.
Nets 122, Cavaliers 117, OT
At Newark, New Jersey, Gerald Green scored a season-high 32 points, including a clutch 3-pointer with 36.7 seconds left in regulation and a high-flying dunk in overtime, leading New Jersey to a win over Cleveland.
Anthony Morrow scored 24 points, Deron Williams had 18 points and 10 assists, and Kris Humphries added 16 points and 11 rebounds as the Nets won a season-best third straight at home.
New Jersey also finished with its highest scoring total of the season.
Antawn Jamison scored a season high-tying 34 points, Lester Hudson had 26 and Alonzo Gee added 22 points and 11 rebounds for Cleveland, which lost for the 10th time in 11 games.
Spurs 114, Jazz 104
At San Antonio, Tony Parker scored 28 points and San Antonio won its 11th straight game, beating Utah to maintain its slim lead atop the Western Conference.
Manu Ginobili added 23 points for the Spurs, who are now on their second 11-game win streak — a season best in the NBA.
Al Jefferson led the Jazz with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Utah dropped 1½ games behind Denver for the eighth and final playoff spot with nine games to go.
The Spurs (40-14) have played two more games than the Thunder (41-15).
Thunder 91, Raptors 75
At Oklahoma City, Kevin Durant scored 23 points and Oklahoma City had a 24-0 run bridging the third and fourth quarters to beat Toronto and end a season-worst three-game losing streak.
Oklahoma City remained percentage points behind San Antonio for first place in the West after the Spurs beat Utah 114-104.
Toronto trailed 58-55 with 6:05 left in the third quarter, but the Raptors didn’t score again in the period. Oklahoma City then scored the last 12 points of the quarter and the first 12 of the fourth to take 27-point lead.
Jose Calderon led Toronto with 19 points and DeMar DeRozan added 16 on 6-for-22 shooting.
Rockets 104, Kings 87
At Sacramento, California, Courtney Lee scored 19 of his 25 points in the first half, leading Houston over Sacramento.
Goran Dragic had 15 points and nine assists, and Chase Budinger also scored 15 as Houston won its third straight and fourth in five games.
Terrence Williams had a season-high 21 points and eight rebounds for the Kings, losers of four straight and nine of 11. Rookie guard Jimmer Fredette made three 3-pointers and finished with 17 points in a season-high 37 minutes.
Budinger scored 10 points in the final quarter. /ap
