NBA | Bobcats snap 7-game skid; torrid Celtics scorch Bulls

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Gerald Wallace scored 22 points and Raymond Felton went 8 for 8 from the foul line in the final 16 seconds as the Charlotte Bobcats snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 96-93 win over the slumping Cleveland Cavaliers last night.

Playing again without LeBron James, the Cavaliers could not hold on to a three-point lead early in the fourth quarter, then missed several chances down the stretch to lose their sixth straight game.

Felton's two free throws with 3.1 seconds left put Charlotte ahead by 3. Without any time-outs left, Cleveland was forced to inbound from the backcourt, and Larry Hughes' half-court shot at the buzzer was well short.

Hughes scored 22 points in his first game in more than a month after being sidelined with a bone bruise in his left leg. Shannon Brown and Daniel Gibson each scored 15 for the Cavaliers, who committed 27 turnovers.

Emeka Okafor added 19 points, Jason Richardson 18 and Felton 15 for Charlotte, which went 14 for 14 from the free-throw line in the final minute.

Celtics 92, Bulls 81

CHICAGO - Ray Allen scored 21 points, Rajon Rondo matched a season-high with 18, and Boston continued its torrid pace by holding off Chicago.

Boston was leading by 86-70 after James Posey threw a behind-the-back pass to Allen with 5 minutes, 23 seconds remaining, but instead of cruising to a win, the Celtics had to hang on. The Bulls scored the next 11 points, culminating with a three-point play by Andres Nocioni that made it 86-81 with just under a minute left.

Garnett then hit a jumper, and the Celtics won their sixth straight. At 17-2, they own the league's best record.

Timberwolves 100, Suns 93

MINNEAPOLIS - Phoenix's magnificent offense fell flat in the second half, and Al Jefferson tied a career-high with 32 points to go with 20 rebounds to carry success-starved Minnesota to victory.

The Timberwolves entered the game with a league-worst 2-15 record, but dominated on the boards and snapped a five-game losing streak.

Marko Jaric added 19 points and Craig Smith had 16 points and eight rebounds for the Timberwolves, who outrebounded the Suns by 55-33.

Mavericks 125, Jazz 117

DALLAS - Josh Howard scored a career-high 47 points and Erick Dampier provided a season-high 21 points - and Dallas needed every bit of it to beat Deron Williams and Utah.

Devin Harris added a career-high 12 assists to help the Mavericks end skids of two straight losses, three of four and six of nine.

Williams scored a career-high 41 points, 32 coming in the second half.

Hawks 86, Grizzlies 78

ATLANTA - Josh Smith scored 25 points and rookie Al Horford grabbed 14 rebounds in Atlanta's victory over Memphis. The Hawks have won three of four and six of nine; Memphis lost its fourth straight.

Nuggets 101, Kings 97

DENVER - Allen Iverson scored 23 points and dished out 10 assists and Marcus Camby contributed 13 rebounds to carry Denver past Sacramento.