Webber-less Kings beat Pistons

Associated Press Sacramento, California

Mike Bibby had 19 points and 11 assists, Kenny Thomas added 19 points, and Sacramento beat the Detroit Pistons 100-85 Sunday in the Kings' first home game since Chris Webber's departure.

Peja Stojakovic and Darius Songaila scored 14 points apiece in an impressive homecoming victory for the Kings' revamped roster. Sacramento embarked on a six-game road trip the day Webber was traded to Philadelphia nearly two weeks ago along with two reserves for Thomas, Corliss Williamson and Brian Skinner.

Rasheed Wallace had 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Pistons, who finished a six-game road trip with consecutive losses to Phoenix, Seattle and Sacramento.

The defending NBA champions missed 13 of 24 free throws and struggled for open shots against Sacramento's tenacious defense.[

In Houston, Tracy McGrady had 32 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Rockets past the injury-depleted Mavericks 90-69.

McGrady scored 27 of his points after getting six stitches on his chin following a collision in the first quarter.

The Mavericks, who were playing without the injured Dirk Nowitzki and Michael Finley for just the second time this season, set a season-low for total points.

Jason Terry led Dallas with 20 points. Keith Van Horn, who started for Nowitzki, added 12.

Yao Ming had 14 points and 11 rebounds for Houston.[ Timberwolves 99, Celtics 97=

In Boston, Latrell Sprewell made a runner with 0.9 seconds remaining to give Kevin McHale a victory in his first game on the sidelines in Boston. McHale, who took over as Timberwolves coach for the fired Flip Saunders, played his entire 13-year, Hall of Fame career in green and white. He helped lead the Celtics to three NBA championships before taking over as Minnesota's vice president of basketball operations in 1995. Kevin Garnett had 21 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists for the Wolves, who handed the Celtics their first loss since the return of Antoine Walker. Wally Szczerbiak added 20 points. Walker had 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting for Boston and had a chance to give the Celtics the lead with 1:43 left, but missed the first of two foul shots. He made the second to tie the game at 97.[ Knicks 115, Warriors 99= In New York, Stephon Marbury had 26 points and a season-high 16 assists, and the Knicks used a 21-1 run in the fourth quarter to defeat the Warriors. Tim Thomas scored 25 points, Michael Sweetney opened 9-for-9 and finished with 19 points, and Maurice Taylor shot 7-for-8 and scored 15. The Knicks shot a season-high 61.8 percent. Jason Richardson scored 24 points and Troy Murphy added 23 for the Warriors, who had their two-game winning streak snapped. The game marked their fourth stop on an eight-game, 12-day road trip, and fatigue seemed to sap the Warriors' energy down the stretch.[ Heat 102, Cavaliers 82= In Cleveland, Shaquille O'Neal spent much of his 33rd birthday in foul trouble but Eddie Jones scored 19 points, Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem added 18 apiece and the Heat won their fifth straight. O'Neal played just 19 minutes in the first three quarters, but the Heat actually played better without their All-Star center. While O'Neal sat out with four fouls, Miami outscored Cleveland 18-8 over the final 6:23 of the third to take control. O'Neal finished with 13 points, five rebounds and six assists in his third game back after missing four games with a sprained left knee. LeBron James scored 23 points for the Cavaliers, who have lost six straight.[ Spurs 101, Jazz 94= In San Antonio, Tim Duncan missed most of the second half after spraining his right ankle, but Manu Ginobili led the Spurs in his absence with 31 points to help San Antonio beat the Utah Jazz 101-94 Sunday night. Duncan was helped from the floor 3:48 into the second half. He was defending a drive by Andrei Kirilenko when he jumped and appeared to come down on the leg of teammate Rasho Nesterovic. Duncan did not return to the game. He scored 12 points and grabbed four rebounds in 23 minutes. Ginobili was 7-of-11 from the floor and made all but one of his 15 foul shots. Keith McCleod led the Jazz with 18 points.[ Raptors 95, Hornets 84= In New Orleans, Chris Bosh scored a career-high 33 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, helping the Raptors end a two-game skid. Reserve Matt Bonner added a career-high 18 points and Jalen Rose scored 14 for the Raptors. Lee Nailon led the Hornets with 18 points, while reserve Bostjan Nachbar added 15.[ MORE[

GetAP 1.00 -- MAR 7, 2005 11:44:20