Associated Press

Los Angeles, February 4:

Tony Parker had 22 points and nine assists, Tim Duncan scored 17 points despite hyperextending his left knee, and the San Antonio Spurs held off Los Angeles Lakers 103-91. The game was the first for the Lakers since Rudy Tomjanovich resigned as coach. Frank Hamblen, Tomjanovich’s replacement, lobbied for the return of Phil Jackson.

The Spurs outscored Los Angeles 37-15 in the third quarter for an 80-55 lead, and led 89-61 early in the fourth when the Lakers went on a 23-2 run to draw within seven points with 3:51 remaining. Malik Rose had season-high totals of 19 points, and Manu Ginobili had 17 points for Spurs. Lamar Odom had 23 points for the Lakers. In Miami, Shaquille O’Neal had 26 points and 12 rebounds as Miami Heat overcame 31 points and 10 assists from All-Star LeBron James to beat Cleveland Cavaliers 100-88. O’Neal scored eight points in the fourth quarter to help the Eastern Conference-leading Heat send Cleveland to its fourth loss in five road games. Eddie Jones added 22 points and Dwyane Wade scored 20 for the Heat. James made 11 of 23 shots for Cleveland.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 23 points and Drew Gooden had 10 points and 12 rebounds — his sixth straight double-double — for the Cavaliers. In Memphis, Bobby Simmons scored seven of his 26 points in the final three minutes and finished 10-of-12 from the field in the Los Angeles Clippers’ 106-103 comeback victory over Memphis Grizzlies. Marko Jaric added 25 points to help the Clippers win their third straight and snap a seven-game losing streak against the Grizzlies. Memphis’ Brian Cardinal missed a desperation shot from beyond midcourt at the buzzer. Elton Brand had 17 points and 11 rebounds for Los Angeles, and Zeljeko Rebraca added 14 points in a reserve role. The Clippers were 11-of-14 from the field in the fourth quarter and finished the game at 60 per cent. Mike Miller led the Grizzlies with 16 points.

Yao receives record votes

Associated Press

New York, February 4:

Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets received a record 2,558,278 votes in winning the starting spot at centre for the NBA’s Western Conference All-Star team for the third straight year.

He will line up alongside Minnesota’s Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan of San Antonio, the Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant and Houston’s Tracy McGrady at the All-Star game on February 20 in Denver. Shaquille O’Neal’s 2,488,089 votes were the second highest in All-Star balloting history, the NBA said on Thursday in announcing the starters. The previous record was 2,451,136 for Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls in 1997.

Grant Hill of the Orlando Magic edged the Indiana Pacers’ Jermaine O’Neal by slightly more than 65,000 votes for a starting spot on the Eastern Conference team for the 54th version of the league’s showcase event. Hill received 1,497,489 votes in fan balloting to O’Neal’s 1,432,438, allowing him to join Shaquille O’Neal, Allen Iverson, Vince Carter and LeBron James as the starting five for the East. More than 6 million votes were cast in worldwide All-Star balloting, a 14 per cent increase from a year ago, the NBA said. Shaquille O’Neal will be a starter for the first time since 2002 after being outpolled by China’s Yao the past two years when both were in the Western Conference.