Basketball, Losing Streak | featured news

Washington Wizards big man Nene cleanly stripped the ball from Charlotte Bobcats center DeSagana Diop, took a few dribbles up the floor, then spotted Emeka Okafor streaking from the corner of his eye. Displaying a little flash to wake up an apathetic crowd at Verizon Center, Nene whipped the ball behind his back and hit Okafor in stride before Okafor jackhammered a one-handed dunk over Diop.

The losing play and overall lack of production left Coach Randy Wittman with little choice but to make a change. Somehow, that meant Jan Vesely would get his first start of the season for the Washington Wizards.

The bottom line is the Lakers are 0-2 after falling 100-91 to Sacramento Tuesday. That is two games in a row where they played poorly at the end (they blew an 11 point lead Sunday, scored on basket in the final three minutes Monday).

Carmelo Anthony scored 39 points, his best effort since coming to New York, and the Knicks pulled out a 113-106 overtime victory over the Orlando Magic on Monday night to snap a six-game losing streak.

In the span of just a few days, the Charlotte Bobcats have somehow climbed back into playoff contention while the New York Knicks are facing questions about a potential monumental collapse.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- Mike Conley scored 10 of his season-high 28 points in the fourth quarter, and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Los Angeles Lakers 98-96 on Tuesday night, sending the defending champs to their third straight loss....

Kobe Bryant hit a 17-foot fallaway jumper with 1.9 seconds left, and the Los Angeles Lakers rallied in the fourth quarter to snap their three-game losing streak with a 109-107 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night....

The New Jersey Nets matched the worst start to an NBA season with their 17th straight loss Sunday night, with Kobe Bryant scoring 30 points in the Los Angeles Lakers' 106-87 victory....

The New Jersey Nets dropped their 16th straight game to open the season, moving within one of matching the worst start in NBA history with a 109-96 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Friday night....

Carmelo Anthony scored 27 points, Nene added 17 and the Denver Nuggets dealt the New Jersey Nets their 14th straight loss to start the season with a 101-87 win Tuesday night....