PHILADELPHIA (AP) Allen Iverson scored a season-high 50 points, leading the Philadelphia 76ers to a 98-86 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night.

Kenny Thomas had 13 rebounds and reserve John Salmons added 13 points for Philadelphia, which leads the Atlantic Division despite a 9-9 record.

Jason Terry had 20 points and Shareef Abdur-Rahim had 17 for the Hawks, who are off to a 6-12 start.

It was the ninth time, including playoffs, that Iverson has scored 50 or more points in his eight seasons. He had 55 in a playoff victory over New Orleans last April.

Iverson was coming off a season-low 12-point performance in which he missed 15 of 19 shots in a loss to Indiana on Friday night.

Knicks 79, Hornets 74

NEW YORK (AP) Allan Houston scored 18 points, and Dikembe Mutombo added 13 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks to help New York beat New Orleans.

Mutombo got the Knicks started with 11 points and seven rebounds in the first half, and Houston scored 13 during a sluggish second half for both teams.

David Wesley's 16 points led the Hornets, who committed six of their 16 turnovers in the fourth quarter and shot just 32 percent from the field. Baron Davis had 13 points and 10 assists.

Pistons 80, Wizards 69

WASHINGTON (AP) Richard Hamilton scored 25 points and Chauncey Billups added 22 to lead Detroit to its eighth win in nine games against Washington.

Detroit's win overshadowed a solid game by Brendan Haywood, who led the Wizards with a career-high 23 points and season-high 11 rebounds.

Moments after Jarvis Hayes tied the game at 65 with a dunk with 6:57 remaining, Washington coach Eddie Jordan drew a technical for charging onto the court as Hamilton was making a layup.

Hamilton made the free throw for a 68-65 lead with 6:37 left and the Pistons never trailed again.

Heat 78, Raptors 66

MIAMI (AP) Rookie Dwyane Wade scored 16 points to lead Miami over short-handed Toronto, which played without starters Antonio Davis and Jerome Williams.

Davis and Williams are part of a six-player trade that will send Jalen Rose to the Raptors, Bulls general manager John Paxson said Saturday night. The deal is pending league approval Monday.

Rookie forward Chris Jeffries, also involved with the trade, did not dress for the Raptors.

Toronto, which has yet to reach 90 points in regulation this season, was held below 70 points for the fifth time.

Grizzlies 122, Cavaliers 115, 2OT

CLEVELAND (AP) Pau Gasol scored a career-high 37 points and Memphis Grizzlies completed its second-biggest comeback with a double-overtime win over Cleveland.

Shane Battier added 22 points and a career-high 12 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who trailed by 24 in the first half and 16 going into the fourth quarter.

Memphis' comeback was its biggest since overcoming a 25-point deficit to beat Portland on March 25, 2002.

Cavs rookie LeBron James had his best game as a pro _ 33 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists _ but had two costly turnovers late in the first overtime period that helped Memphis rally.

Mike Miller added 20 points and a career-high 13 assists for the Grizzlies, who clawed back by scoring the first 18 points of the fourth quarter.

Mavericks 92, Timberwolves 88

DALLAS (AP) Michael Finley scored 25 points and rookie Josh Howard provided a much-needed spark in the second half, carrying Dallas past Minnesota in a matchup of teams playing their fourth game in five nights.

Missing Dirk Nowitzki (sprained ankle) and Danny Fortson (suspended), Dallas needed fresh legs to remain undefeated at home. Howard came through, scoring seven points during a 22-4 run that turned a 12-point deficit into a six-point lead early in the fourth quarter.

Kevin Garnett _ who had 28 points and 20 rebounds _ single-handedly kept the Timberwolves close, scoring eight of their last nine, including a jumper that tied it at 81 with 3:46 left.

He also had a 3-pointer and two free throws in the final 27 seconds that prevented the Mavericks from sealing the victory.

After Steve Nash made a pair of foul shots with 2 seconds left, Minnesota's last chance ended when Sam Cassell fumbled an inbounds pass. When time expired, Cassell punted the ball high over the court, landing in the seats.

Bucks 100, Celtics 94

MILWAUKEE (AP) Joe Smith made two free throws with 11 seconds left and Toni Kukoc scored nine fourth-quarter points to lead Milwaukee past Boston in the second game of a home-and-home series between the teams.

Milwaukee blew a 15-point second-quarter lead, fell behind by 12 in the third quarter and rallied to become the first team to score 100 points against the Celtics this season.

Michael Redd had 23 points, Desmond Mason had a season-high 22 points and Smith had 16 points and 11 rebounds for Milwaukee.

Mike James had a career-high 23 points and Paul Pierce scored 21 for the Celtics, which beat the Bucks 106-96 Friday night in Boston.

SuperSonics 95, Rockets 88

SEATTLE (AP) Rashard Lewis scored 27 points in his return from a one-game absence and rookie Luke Ridnour had eight of his 11 points in the fourth quarter for Seattle.

Lewis, who shot 9-of-18 from the floor, missed Friday night's loss at Utah because of a death in his family.

Antonio Daniels made his first start of the season, scoring 13 points, while Ronald Murray came off the bench for 12 and Brent Barry added 10. The Sonics had lost three of four at home.

Steve Francis led the Rockets with 28 points, but he scored only four in the fourth quarter _ all from the foul line.

Nuggets 98, Clippers 86

LOS ANGELES (AP) Voshon Lenard scored a season-high 26 points and Denver never trailed in handing the Los Angeles Clippers their sixth straight loss.

Point guard Andre Miller had 19 points and seven assists in his return to Staples Center, where he spent an unproductive and unhappy season with the Clippers before joining Denver as a free agent when Los Angeles declined to match the Nuggets' six-year, $51 million offer sheet.

Corey Maggette had 22 points and eight rebounds for the Clippers, who were 29-for-83 from the field and have failed to shoot 50 percent or better this season.

Warriors 91, Spurs 89

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Nick Van Exel scored 16 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter to help Golden State beat San Antonio.

Van Exel, playing a backup role because of a sore left knee, either tied the score or gave the Warriors the lead with five of his seven fourth-quarter baskets, including a long 3 with 20 seconds left that proved to be the winner.

Tim Duncan, who missed a wide-opener 20-footer in the final second, led the defending NBA champion Spurs with 27 points and 15 rebounds. Tony Parker added 19 points, and Rasho Nestorovic had 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Dec. 15 _ Deadline for owners to extend collective bargaining agreement through 2004-05 season.

Jan. 4 _ Ten-day contracts may be signed.

Jan. 10 _ All player contracts are guaranteed for entire season.

Feb. 13-15 _ All-Star weekend, Los Angeles.

Feb. 19 _ Trading deadline, 3 p.m. EST.

Apr. 14 _ Regular season ends.

Apr. 17 _ Playoffs begin.

May 10 _ Early draft entry eligibility deadline.

June 1-4 _ Predraft camp, Chicago.

June 6 _ NBA Finals start date (possible move up to June 4)

June 20 _ NBA Finals, latest possible end date.

June 24 _ NBA draft, New York.

July 1 _ Teams may begin negotiating with, but not sign, free agents.

July 14 _ 2004-05 salary cap set. Teams may begin signing free agents.

Aug. 13-29 _ Athens Olympics.

Oct. 15-17 _ NBA China Games (Sacramento vs. Houston), Beijing.

"Gilbert Arenas' severely strained abdomen is far worse than originally thought and is likely to keep the Washington Wizards point guard and leading scorer out "for at least a few weeks, maybe even longer," a source with knowledge of the situation said last night."

Guard Mitchell Butler has been activated off the injured list to replace him.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) Allen Iverson scored a season-high 50 points, leading the Philadelphia 76ers to a 98-86 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night.

Kenny Thomas had 13 rebounds and reserve John Salmons added 13 points for Philadelphia, which leads the Atlantic Division despite a 9-9 record.

Jason Terry had 20 points and Shareef Abdur-Rahim had 17 for the Hawks, who are off to a 6-12 start.

It was the ninth time, including playoffs, that Iverson has scored 50 or more points in his eight seasons. He had 55 in a playoff victory over New Orleans last April.

Iverson was coming off a season-low 12-point performance in which he missed 15 of 19 shots in a loss to Indiana on Friday night.

Knicks 79, Hornets 74

NEW YORK (AP) Allan Houston scored 18 points, and Dikembe Mutombo added 13 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks to help New York beat New Orleans.

Mutombo got the Knicks started with 11 points and seven rebounds in the first half, and Houston scored 13 during a sluggish second half for both teams.

David Wesley's 16 points led the Hornets, who committed six of their 16 turnovers in the fourth quarter and shot just 32 percent from the field. Baron Davis had 13 points and 10 assists.

Pistons 80, Wizards 69

WASHINGTON (AP) Richard Hamilton scored 25 points and Chauncey Billups added 22 to lead Detroit to its eighth win in nine games against Washington.

Detroit's win overshadowed a solid game by Brendan Haywood, who led the Wizards with a career-high 23 points and season-high 11 rebounds.

Moments after Jarvis Hayes tied the game at 65 with a dunk with 6:57 remaining, Washington coach Eddie Jordan drew a technical for charging onto the court as Hamilton was making a layup.

Hamilton made the free throw for a 68-65 lead with 6:37 left and the Pistons never trailed again.

Heat 78, Raptors 66

MIAMI (AP) Rookie Dwyane Wade scored 16 points to lead Miami over short-handed Toronto, which played without starters Antonio Davis and Jerome Williams.

Davis and Williams are part of a six-player trade that will send Jalen Rose to the Raptors, Bulls general manager John Paxson said Saturday night. The deal is pending league approval Monday.

Rookie forward Chris Jeffries, also involved with the trade, did not dress for the Raptors.

Toronto, which has yet to reach 90 points in regulation this season, was held below 70 points for the fifth time.

Grizzlies 122, Cavaliers 115, 2OT

CLEVELAND (AP) Pau Gasol scored a career-high 37 points and Memphis Grizzlies completed its second-biggest comeback with a double-overtime win over Cleveland.

Shane Battier added 22 points and a career-high 12 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who trailed by 24 in the first half and 16 going into the fourth quarter.

Memphis' comeback was its biggest since overcoming a 25-point deficit to beat Portland on March 25, 2002.

Cavs rookie LeBron James had his best game as a pro _ 33 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists _ but had two costly turnovers late in the first overtime period that helped Memphis rally.

Mike Miller added 20 points and a career-high 13 assists for the Grizzlies, who clawed back by scoring the first 18 points of the fourth quarter.

Mavericks 92, Timberwolves 88

DALLAS (AP) Michael Finley scored 25 points and rookie Josh Howard provided a much-needed spark in the second half, carrying Dallas past Minnesota in a matchup of teams playing their fourth game in five nights.

Missing Dirk Nowitzki (sprained ankle) and Danny Fortson (suspended), Dallas needed fresh legs to remain undefeated at home. Howard came through, scoring seven points during a 22-4 run that turned a 12-point deficit into a six-point lead early in the fourth quarter.

Kevin Garnett _ who had 28 points and 20 rebounds _ single-handedly kept the Timberwolves close, scoring eight of their last nine, including a jumper that tied it at 81 with 3:46 left.

He also had a 3-pointer and two free throws in the final 27 seconds that prevented the Mavericks from sealing the victory.

After Steve Nash made a pair of foul shots with 2 seconds left, Minnesota's last chance ended when Sam Cassell fumbled an inbounds pass. When time expired, Cassell punted the ball high over the court, landing in the seats.

Bucks 100, Celtics 94

MILWAUKEE (AP) Joe Smith made two free throws with 11 seconds left and Toni Kukoc scored nine fourth-quarter points to lead Milwaukee past Boston in the second game of a home-and-home series between the teams.

Milwaukee blew a 15-point second-quarter lead, fell behind by 12 in the third quarter and rallied to become the first team to score 100 points against the Celtics this season.

Michael Redd had 23 points, Desmond Mason had a season-high 22 points and Smith had 16 points and 11 rebounds for Milwaukee.

Mike James had a career-high 23 points and Paul Pierce scored 21 for the Celtics, which beat the Bucks 106-96 Friday night in Boston.

SuperSonics 95, Rockets 88

SEATTLE (AP) Rashard Lewis scored 27 points in his return from a one-game absence and rookie Luke Ridnour had eight of his 11 points in the fourth quarter for Seattle.

Lewis, who shot 9-of-18 from the floor, missed Friday night's loss at Utah because of a death in his family.

Antonio Daniels made his first start of the season, scoring 13 points, while Ronald Murray came off the bench for 12 and Brent Barry added 10. The Sonics had lost three of four at home.

Steve Francis led the Rockets with 28 points, but he scored only four in the fourth quarter _ all from the foul line.

Nuggets 98, Clippers 86

LOS ANGELES (AP) Vashon Lenard scored a season-high 26 points and Denver never trailed in handing the Los Angeles Clippers their sixth straight loss.

Point guard Andre Miller had 19 points and seven assists in his return to Staples Center, where he spent an unproductive and unhappy season with the Clippers before joining Denver as a free agent when Los Angeles declined to match the Nuggets' six-year, $51 million offer sheet.

Corey Maggette had 22 points and eight rebounds for the Clippers, who were 29-for-83 from the field and have failed to shoot 50 percent or better this season.

Spurs 91, Warriors 89

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Nick Van Exel scored 16 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter to help Golden State beat San Antonio.

Van Exel, playing a backup role because of a sore left knee, either tied the score or gave the Warriors the lead with five of his seven fourth-quarter baskets, including a long 3 with 20 seconds left that proved to be the winner.

Tim Duncan, who missed a wide-opener 20-footer in the final second, led the defending NBA champion Spurs with 27 points and 15 rebounds. Tony Parker added 19 points, and Rasho Nestorovic had 14 points and 11 rebounds.

MIAMI (AP) Toronto star Vince Carter the Raptors' game Saturday night against Miami after injuring his jaw in a fall.

Carter was injured in the third quarter when he got tangled up with an official near the baseline and tumbled behind the basket after losing his balance. Carter stayed on the ground for a few minutes before being escorted to the locker room.

MIAMI (AP) Toronto star Vince Carter left the Raptors' game Saturday night against Miami after injuring his jaw in a fall.

Carter was injured in the third quarter when he got tangled up with an official near the baseline and tumbled behind the basket after losing his balance. Carter stayed on the ground for a few minutes before being escorted to the locker room.

MIAMI (AP) Toronto star Vince Carter left the Raptors' game Saturday night against Miami after injuring his jaw in a fall, but later returned.

Carter was injured in the third quarter when he got tangled up with an official near the baseline and tumbled behind the basket after losing his balance. Carter stayed on the ground for a few minutes before being escorted to the locker room.

X-rays were negative and Carter returned to the game with just over five minutes left.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) Philadelphia 76ers star Allen Iverson was fined $10,000 by the NBA on Saturday for making an obscene gesture toward fans during a loss in Milwaukee earlier in the week.

Iverson made the gesture in the 76ers' 95-91 loss to the Bucks on Monday. He scored 50 points Saturday night to lead the Sixers over the Atlanta Hawks 98-86.

``I made a mistake and I deserve it,'' Iverson said of the fine.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) Philadelphia 76ers star Allen Iverson was fined $10,000 by the NBA on Saturday for making an obscene gesture toward fans during a loss in Milwaukee earlier in the week.

Iverson made the gesture in the 76ers' 95-91 loss to the Bucks on Monday. He scored 50 points Saturday night to lead the Sixers over the Atlanta Hawks 98-86.

``I made a mistake and I deserve it,'' Iverson said of the fine.

LOS ANGELES (AP) Karl Malone gave the Los Angeles Lakers the physical presence they expected.

In the Lakers' most significant game so far this season, he gave them something they didn't expect: a triple-double.

And he accomplished the feat despite playing only 26 minutes.

Malone became the first NBA player to get a triple-double at age 40, leading the Lakers past the defending champion San Antonio Spurs 103-87 Friday night. He sat out all of the fourth quarter.

``I'm glad to be here,'' said Malone, the second-leading scorer in NBA history. ``Hopefully they're glad to have me.''

That goes without saying. He's doing a bit of everything for Los Angeles, which is 13-3.

Malone had 10 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for the fourth triple-double of his career and first since spring 1999. The 6-foot-9, 259-pound forward left the game for good with 2{ minutes remaining in the third quarter and the Lakers leading 78-48.

``To get one at any time in your career, that's special. To get one at 40 is a little special. The most important thing is a win,'' said Malone, who played 18 seasons for the Utah Jazz before signing as a free-agent with the Lakers last summer.

Gary Payton, who also joined the Lakers as a free agent in the offseason, said he has never played with a forward like Malone.

``He is a great passing forward,'' Payton said. ``He rebounded the basketball and made points and he passed the ball really well. He did a great job.''

The game was the first between the teams in Los Angeles since May 15, when the Spurs won 110-82 in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals. That eliminated the Lakers from the playoffs and ended their quest for a fourth straight NBA championship.

The Lakers are a much different team now, with Payton and Malone providing new support for Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal.

``We have a full thrust. Last year, it was a 1-2 punch. This year, it's just a wave. And that's how we play,'' Bryant said. ``I mean, it's not only myself, Karl, Gary and Shaquille. It's also Devean George, because he's featured in our offense.''

George shot 8-of-9 and scored a season-high 19 points against the Spurs, making him 15-of-19 for 37 points in his last two games.

He shot 56-of-113 and averaged 9.9 points in the Lakers' first 14 games.

The win was the fifth straight and eighth in nine games for the Lakers and extended their regular-season home winning streak to 24, including nine this season. That ties the Los Angeles franchise record.

The Lakers can eclipse that mark Sunday night against the Indiana Pacers, whose 14-2 record is the NBA's best.

``These games we've got now are a big test for us,'' Malone said. ``We've got another big one Sunday.''

The Pacers have won eight straight games overall, and they're 7-0 away from Indianapolis _ the only team that's unbeaten on the road this season.

``They've got to come see us,'' Bryant said. ``They're playing extremely well, and we're playing extremely well, so we're going to fight fire with fire and see what's what.''

George said he very much looked forward to the game.

``The Beast of the East,'' he said of the Pacers. ``We're waiting for them.''