SALT LAKE CITY: Rookie Sundiata Gaines hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to end a frenzied series of comebacks and give the Utah Jazz a 97-96 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA on Thursday.
LeBron James had led the Cavaliers on a 22-4 run earlier in the fourth quarter and put Cleveland up by six points with 33 seconds left, but the visitors couldn’t clinch it from the free throw line.
Zildrunas Ilgauskas went 1-of-2 from the line with 5.6 seconds left and the Jazz needed only a field goal to tie it or 3-pointer to win it.
Utah’s Ronnie Price flipped the ball to Gaines, who launched the game-winner. Gaines, signed to a 10-day contract when starter Deron Williams sprained his right wrist, finished with nine points. It was Gaines’ first 3-pointer in his five-game NBA career.
James led Cleveland with 36 points, scoring 20 in the fourth quarter.
Utah’s Carlos Boozer scored 11 points in the final period to finish with 19 points, 13 rebounds and six assists against his former team.
Bulls 96, Celtics 83: In Boston, Chicago got a rare road win at one of the most challenging venues, downing Boston.
Luol Deng scored 25 points to lead Chicago to a third straight win.
The Celtics got within six points with 3:50 left, but the Bulls scored eight of the next nine points, six by Joakim Noah, to build the lead to 94-81.
Paul Pierce scored 20 points and Rajon Rondo added 15 for the Celtics, playing their fourth game in five nights. The loss dropped them to 11-6 at home after they went 35-6 there in each of the past two seasons.
The Bulls won for only the second time in their last 12 road contests as they began a stretch of 10 of 12 games away from home.
Derrick Rose scored 17 points for the Bulls, while Noah had his 19th double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
