Nuggets end Laker streak
DENVER — Wilson Chandler scored 23 points in place of an injured Danilo Gallinari, and Ty Lawson added 22 in the Denver Nuggets' 119-108 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night.
Gallinari, the Nuggets' leading scorer, sat out with a bruised left thigh. He wasn't needed as the Nuggets won their ninth straight game at home, snapped the Lakers' four-game winning streak and took the season series from their long-time nemesis 3-1.
The Lakers, who were shut out on the offensive glass in the first half, wanted to slow down the Nuggets but Denver outscored Los Angeles 33-3 in fast-break points.
Gallinari, who got hurt Friday night at Washington and was limited the next night at Charlotte, was an unexpected late scratch. Averaging 16.9 points, he had scored at least 19 in each of Denver's first three games against the Lakers.
Chandler started in his place and Corey Brewer got extended minutes, too, finishing with 16 points.
Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 29 points, and Dwight Howard added 15 points and 14 boards but missed 11 of his last 12 free throws.
The Lakers trimmed an 18-point, second-half deficit to 106-99 on Bryant's fadeaway jumper with five minutes left but couldn't get any closer.
Nuggets coach George Karl said before the game that he was expecting Gallinari to start. He also said that Bryant was playing as well as ever for the resurgent Lakers, who are fighting for a playoff spot after a slow start, a rash of injuries and a coaching change.
"He told me when they beat us last year in the playoffs that he was getting old. He was lying, man. He looks healthier and younger now than he did last year," Karl said. "And the shots he's making are just a coach's nightmare."
Hawks 114, Pistons 103
At Auburn Hills, Mich., Al Horford had 23 points and 22 rebounds, and Atlanta beat Detroit for its fifth win in six games.
Josh Smith added 23 points for the Hawks, who were ahead 61-51 at halftime and led by as many as 26 in the third quarter.
The Pistons have lost three straight, all without guard Brandon Knight, who has a hyperextended right knee. Will Bynum was also out Monday because of a suspension.
Rodney Stuckey led Detroit with 22 points, and Jonas Jerebko added 21. Kyle Singler scored 13 points on 5-for-11 shooting to go with four rebounds, an assist and a steal.
Jeff Teague had 20 points for Atlanta, which shot 14 of 33 from 3-point range. Kyle Korver scored 15 points, all from beyond the arc.
Celtics 110, Jazz 107, OT
At Salt Lake City, Paul Pierce scored 26 points, including seven straight in overtime, and Boston beat Utah to close out a five-game road trip.
Pierce had a chance to win it in regulation, but his 19-footer at the buzzer rimmed out.
Courtney Lee made two free throws with 1.2 seconds left in overtime to bump Boston's lead to three, and Randy Foye's 26-footer at the buzzer missed everything.
Avery Bradley added a season-high 18 points for Boston.
Gordon Hayward led Utah with 26 points, Paul Millsap had 16 and Al Jefferson finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Wizards 90, Raptors 84
At Toronto, Bradley Beal scored 20 points, Nene had 11 points and nine rebounds, and Washington beat Toronto for its third straight victory.
A.J. Price and Martell Webster each added 12 points for the Wizards, who won for just the fifth time in 27 road games this season. Washington's road record is the worst in the NBA.
John Wall had 10 points and seven assists, and Emeka Okafor had eight points and 13 rebounds as the Wizards won for the 14th time in 23 games. DeMar DeRozan scored 25 points and Kyle Lowry had 18 for the Raptors, who had won six of their previous seven.