Nuggets Rally In Win Over Orlando – NBA Roundup

UNDATED (AP) — It's about a month until the NBA playoffs start, so Miami has about that long to figure out how to get out of their late-season funk. The Brooklyn Nets handed the Heat their fourth loss in their last five outings, earning a 96-95 victory on Miami's home court.

Paul Pierce scored 17 of his 29 points in the third quarter, and the Nets beat Miami for the third time in as many tries this season.

Shaun Livingston scored 13 points, Andray Blatche (blahtch) added 11 and Deron Williams had eight assists for the Nets, who've won seven of their past eight games and are 23-9 since Jan. 1.

Chris Bosh was Miami's high-scorer with 24.

In other NBA action:

— Blake Griffin scored 30 points and added 15 rebounds to pace the Clippers over Golden State 111-98 for their ninth straight win. The Clippers had seven players score in double figures, including Chris Paul who tallied 16 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds. The Warriors had their five-game winning streak stopped.

— Patty Mills scored 15 points to lead six players in double figures in San Antonio's 103-90 win over Portland. Tim Duncan had 10 points and 11 rebounds while Tiago Splitter had 12 points and 10 rebounds to help the Spurs to their eight straight win. Damian Lillard had 23 points for Portland, which lost LaMarcus Aldridge to a bruised back early in the second half.

— Dirk Nowitzki (noh-VIHT'-skee) made 12 of 14 shots from the field and scored 31 points to lead Dallas past Utah 108-101. Nowitzki moved into sole possession of 12th place on the NBA all-time scoring list breaking a tie with John Havlicek (HAV'-lih-chehk).

— Mike Conley hit a driving layup with 1.5 seconds remaining to give Memphis a 90-88 comeback win over New Orleans. Conley's basket closed out a 9-0 Grizzlies run to end the game.

— Kyrie Irving scored 12 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter to help Cleveland end a four-game losing streak with a 110-101 victory over Phoenix.

— Carmelo Anthony scored 19 of his 34 points in the first half as the New York Knicks opened a 24-point lead and coasted to their fifth straight win, 116-92 over the Boston Celtics

— The Charlotte Bobcats knocked off Washington 98-85. Al Jefferson led the way with 26 points and 10 rebounds. The Bobcats have won four of five and sit in seventh place in the Eastern Conference.

— DeMar DeRozan scored 25 points, Amir Johnson had 20 against his former team and the Toronto Raptors handed Detroit its 10th straight road defeat, 101-87.

— Kenneth Faried scored 26 points and Wilson Chandler added 21 points and 10 rebounds to rally the Denver Nuggets to a 120-112 win in Orlando.

— Rudy Gay scored 27 points, Isaiah Thomas added 20 and the Sacramento Kings defeated Philadelphia 115-98 to extend the 76ers' losing streak to 18 games.

UNDATED (AP) — The Knicks Carmelo Anthony says he has heard that 11-time NBA champion coach Phil Jackson is "coming on board" in a leadership capacity with the club. Anthony made the comments to reporters on Boston.

Jackson starred for the Knicks back in the 1970's before becoming a championship coach with the Bulls and Lakers.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Kobe Bryant's season is over. The Lakers report that he was examined by the team physician who determined that the knee injury that has kept Bryant out of the lineup hasn't healed.