Byron Mullens put forth a monster performance of 25 points and 18 rebounds to help the Charlotte Bobcats knock the wheels off the Boston Celtics' seven-game roll with a 94-91 victory on Monday. Mullens connected on 10-of-16 shots from the field -- including 4-for-5 from 3-point range -- and Ramon Sessions put the Bobcats ahead for good with his jumper late, helping halt Charlotte's seven-game losing streak. Sessions contributed 19 points for the game. Kemba Walker and Gerald Henderson added 18 and 16 points, respectively, in the victory. Just a day removed from their thrilling triple-overtime victory over the Nuggets, the Celtics saw their late four-point advantage whittle away down the stretch. Kevin Garnett tallied 16 points and 13 rebounds while Paul Pierce finished with 13 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in Boston's first setback since Rajon Rondo's season-ending ACL injury on Jan. 25.
Final Score: Minnesota 100, Cleveland 92
Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Luke Ridnour led six Minnesota players in double figures with a game-high 21 points to lead the Timberwolves to a 100-92 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday. Nikola Pekovic added 16 points and 10 rebounds and Ricky Rubio dropped in 13 points, dished out 10 assists and had five steals for the Timberwolves, who had dropped 10 of their previous 11 games entering the contest. Derrick Williams added 13 points, while Alexey Shved and Mickael Gelabale finished with 11 points apiece in the triumph. Kyrie Irving scored 20 points to go with seven assists and Tristan Thompson scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Cavs, losers in two straight. Dion Waiters scored 12 points, Alonzo Gee netted 11 and Wayne Ellington and Marreese Speights finished with 10 points apiece in the setback.
Final Score: Brooklyn 89, Indiana 84 (OT)
Indianapolis, IN (Sports Network) - Brook Lopez had 25 points and eight rebounds and shot a perfect 9-of-9 from the free throw line as the Brooklyn Nets outlasted the Indiana Pacers in overtime, 89-84 Monday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Joe Johnson scored 17 points and Gerald Wallace recorded a double- double with 11 points and 11 rebounds -- all of which were defensive -- for the Nets, who ended a two-game skid. Reggie Evans managed just eight points, but pulled down 22 boards in the victory. George Hill netted 22 points and dished out six assists, despite going just 1-of-7 from behind the arc for the Pacers, who have dropped two straight overtime home contests following a season-high five-game winning streak and 15-game home winning streak. Lance Stephenson and Jeff Pendergraph had 14 points apiece, while Pendergraph came off the bench to also added 10 rebounds, for the Pacers, who shot a mere 34.4 percent (33-of-96) from the floor.
Final Score: LA Clippers 107, Philadelphia 90
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Chris Paul is quickly returning to form and the Los Angeles Clippers are back to their winning ways. Paul had 21 points, 11 assists and five steals in three quarters of work as the Clippers routed the Philadelphia 76ers in a wire-to-wire victory, 107-90, on Monday. Blake Griffin and Jamal Crawford both netted 20 points for Los Angeles, which has won two straight after losing its first contest since Paul returned Friday against the Miami Heat. Paul had missed 12 of the Clippers' previous 14 games due to a bone bruise on his right knee cap. Los Angeles went 6-6 during his absence. Nick Young had 29 points against his former team to lead the Sixers, who have dropped two of their last three tilts.
Final Score: New Orleans 105, Detroit 86
Auburn Hills, MI (Sports Network) - Ryan Anderson made five 3-pointers en route to a 31-point effort as the New Orleans Hornets dumped the Detroit Pistons, 105-86, at the Palace of Auburn Hills. With one of their best scoring threats, Eric Gordon, sitting out the second game of a back-to-back, the Hornets shot an impressive 49 percent from the field in winning for the third time in four games. Robin Lopez added 23 points and 10 rebounds, while Al- Farouq Aminu chipped in 12 points and 14 boards for New Orleans, which made 10-of-21 from long distance and 13-of-14 from the foul line. The Pistons had a successful weekend with wins over the Spurs and Bucks, but regressed Monday by shooting 36 percent from the field. Rodney Stuckey had a team-high 19 points and Greg Monroe recorded a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Final Score: San Antonio 103, Chicago 89
Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Even without their big three, the San Antonio Spurs remain on a roll. Kawhi Leonard had 26 points in the Spurs' 103-89 win over the Chicago Bulls. Danny Green tallied 18 points and six rebounds, while Tiago Splitter and Gary Neal added 16 points apiece for the Spurs, who have won 13 of their last 14 games. Tim Duncan has missed nine of his last 11 contests due to a sore left knee, Manu Ginobili has missed five straight with tightness in his left hamstring and Tony Parker missed the action due to swelling around his knee. The last time San Antonio head coach Gregg Popovich sat Duncan, Ginobili and Parker in the same game -- a nationally televised showdown with the Miami Heat -- the NBA slapped the Spurs with a $250,000 fine. But all three were healthy scratches then. Nate Robinson had 20 points and seven assists for Chicago, which has dropped four of its last six tilts.
Final Score: Washington 102, Milwaukee 90
Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - In his second game back from a wrist injury, Bradley Beal posted a career-high with 28 points and the Washington Wizards notched their first four-game winning streak of the season with a 102-90 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday. Beal got plenty of help, however, as John Wall, Emeka Okafor and Nene each contributed double-doubles to the Wizards' fourth straight win over a playoff caliber team. Wall had 14 points to go with 10 assists and Okafor tallied 12 points and 10 rebounds. Nene followed Beal's scoring effort with 21 points in addition to recording 13 rebounds and six assists. The Bucks, now losers of four in a row and six of their last seven, had trouble shooting the basketball, converting just 37.9 percent of their attempts. Monta Ellis finished with 24 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and six steals in the setback.
Final Score: Atlanta 105, Dallas 101
Dallas, TX (Sports Network) - Josh Smith scored a game-high 26 points to lead the Atlanta Hawks to a 105-101 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Monday. Smith, who went 10-for-15 from the field and 4-of-5 from 3-point range, also grabbed 13 rebounds and dished out six assists. Al Horford scored 21 points and pulled down 10 rebounds, Jeff Teague scored 20 points to go with nine assists and Devin Harris scored 15 points for the Hawks, who have won two of their last three. Dirk Nowitzki scored 24 points and O.J. Mayo poured in 19 points for the Mavs, who had won two in a row entering the contest.
