NEW YORK, 30 January 2004 — Zydrunas Ilgauskas picked up 30 points and 11 rebounds before Ira Newble blocked the final shot of the game to preserve a 94-93 victory for the Cleveland Cavaliers over the Miami Heat on Wednesday.
Dwayne Wade had a chance to win the game with a last-second lay-up but Newble swatted the ball away to give the host Cavaliers their 17th win of the campaign, equaling the team’s total last season.
Wade, who returned to the Heat line-up after missing 13 games with a wrist injury, had his shot knocked out of bounds. He remained prone on the floor for a minute before storming off, complaining he had been fouled.
LeBron James scored 27 points to help the Cavs to their fifth win in six games.
Eddie Jones had 16 points and Udonis Haslem contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Heat, who had a nine-point lead heading into the fourth quarter but lost for the first time in four games.
In Washington, Tracy McGrady amassed 39 points and Rod Strickland added 14 points and 10 assists to steer the Orlando Magic to a 104-100 victory over the Wizards. McGrady also had nine rebounds and five assists, turning in one of his best overall performances of the season.
McGrady tied an NBA record Monday with eight first-half three-pointers against Cleveland before leaving the game with an injury. He showed no ill effects Wednesday, producing a dominant 44-minute display.
Juwan Howard put up 21 points for the Magic, who built up a 14-point lead in the first half and held on for their first win in three outings.
Kwame Brown had 15 points and 15 rebounds and Larry Hughes added 21 points for the Wizards, who have dropped three of their last four games.
In Boston, Ben Wallace collected 14 points and 15 rebounds as the Detroit Pistons overcame the Celtics 106-103.
John Carroll made his debut as Boston coach following Jim O’Brien’s resignation Monday and saw his team come close to overcoming a 14-point deficit in the second half. Mehmet Okur and Chauncey Billups both scored 21 points and Richard Hamilton 17 to help Detroit snap a three-game losing skid. Paul Pierce had 26 points and was 10-for-11 at the free-throw line for the Celtics, who have lost three of their last four at home. Boston rallied from a 68-54 deficit to lead 93-90 but Detroit then made 11 of 12 free throws.
In Indianapolis, Al Harrington picked up 24 points as the Indiana Pacers crushed the Phoenix Suns 101-79. Reggie Miller notched 18 points and Ron Artest 14 to push the Pacers to their first win in three games.
In Toronto, Donyell Marshall claimed 19 points and 10 rebounds as the Raptors beat the Philadelphia 76ers 94-84.
Morris Peterson scored 18 points and Vince Carter contributed 17 as the Raptors snapped a five-game losing streak.
In Memphis, 16 points and 10 rebounds from Rasheed Wallace propelled the Portland Trail Blazers to an 88-76 win over the Grizzlies. Bonzi Wells scored 20 points and Pau Gasol had 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who lost for the first time in nine games.
In New Orleans, Baron Davis had 23 points and 10 assists as the Hornets edged the Milwaukee Bucks 101-100.Jamal Mashburn notched 24 points and Jamaal Magloire added 16 points and 11 rebounds in the third straight victory for the Hornets.
In Salt Lake City, Andrei Kirilenko gathered 23 points and 10 rebounds to guide the Utah Jazz to a 91-88 triumph over the Dallas Mavericks. Michael Finley scored 29 points as the Mavericks lost for the first time in 10 games.
In Denver, Marcus Camby picked up 12 points and dominated the boards with 24 rebounds to power the Nuggets to a 115-99 victory over the Chicago Bulls.
Rodney White had a team-high 24 points and Carmelo Anthony 21 as six Nuggets reached double figures.
In Houston, Mike Bibby bagged 28 points to lead the Sacramento Kings to a 99-94 win over the Rockets. Bobby Jackson scored 21 points and Peja Stojakovic 19, including four free throws in the final 11 seconds.
In Los Angeles, Gary Payton grabbed 24 points as Shaquille O’Neal and Rick Fox returned to the line-up to help the Lakers beat the Seattle SuperSonics 96-82.
Ray Allen had a triple-double in a losing cause for the Sonics, with 22 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
O’Neal played only 18 minutes, as planned, recording seven points and five rebounds.
In Oakland, Erick Dampier scored 21 points and 19 rebounds to lead the Golden State Warriors past the Minnesota Timberwolves 97-90.
