Mike Bibby scored nine of his season-high 31 points in the final five minutes as the Atlanta Hawks beat the Chicago Bulls 105-102 yesterday to complete a three-game season sweep.
Solid throughout the night, Bibby came up big in the end to lift the Hawks to their second win in as many nights.
The Bulls were leading 94-93 after Derrick Rose drove for a layup, but Bibby buried a jumper over Joakim Noah to start a decisive 7-0 spurt that sent the Hawks to their second win in as many nights. Flip Murray then converted a layup on a two-on-one after Chicago's Luol Deng hit the side of the backboard on a drive, and Bibby finished it with a 3-pointer that made it 100-94 with just under four minutes left.
Zaza Pachulia scored a season-high 18 points for the Kings.
Gordon led Chicago with 21 points, Nocioni added 15, and Luol Deng had 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Spurs 99, Pacers 81
At San Antonio, Tim Duncan scored 27 points and Manu Ginobili had 26 in San Antonio' win over Indiana.
Tony Parker added 13 points for San Antonio, which ended the first half of the season in the familiar position of first in the Southwest Division. The Spurs have won three straight and eight of their last 10.
Danny Granger had 17 points for the Pacers, who shot 37 percent from the field and scored their second-fewest points in a game this season. Indiana entered ranked third in the league in scoring.
Mike Dunleavy added 15 points for the Pacers.
Nuggets 118, Kings 99
At Denver, Linas Kleiza scored 27 points and Chauncey Billups had 22 as Denver used strong second and third quarters to beat Sacramento.
J.R. Smith had 19 points and Nene 13 points and 12 rebounds for Denver, which outscored the Kings 71-44 in the middle frames.
Kevin Martin led Sacramento with 25 points and rookie Jason Thompson had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Kings, who fell behind by 30 in the fourth quarter.
The Nuggets trailed by as many as 10 in the second quarter when Kleiza and Smith led the charge back. Kleiza had 11 points and Smith scored nine points during a 19-4 run that gave Denver a 43-38 lead.
Jazz 112, Timberwolves 107
At Salt Lake City, Mehmet Okur scored 22 points and hit consecutive late 3-pointers to send Utah past Minnesota for its seventh straight home win.
Paul Millsap led Utah with 28 points and 15 rebounds and his dunk gave the Jazz a 97-89 lead midway through the fourth quarter.
The Wolves cut the lead the 97-96 on Randy Foye's 3-pointer.
Al Jefferson, who had 25 points and eight rebounds, missed a jump hook and Okur grabbed the rebound. He then made his consecutive 3s and added a free throw. Deron Williams, who had 17 points and 11 assists, made a jumper to expand the advantage to 106-97.
Ryan Gomes and Foye each had 19 points for Minnesota.
(Agencies via Shanghai Daily January 21, 2009)
