Karl Malone finally got the chance to face the Utah Jazz, and beating the team he played with for 18 seasons didn't feel so good.
``It was kind of bittersweet,'' Malone said. ``They're friends _ friends for life.''
Malone had 19 points and 13 rebounds, and needed an X-ray on his hand after getting knocked around in the Los Angeles Lakers' 91-84 win over the Jazz Sunday.
Malone, the NBA's second-leading career scorer, missed the Lakers' first game against Utah because of a suspension and the last two due to a knee injury that caused him to miss 39 games.
On Sunday, Malone shot 5-of-10 and 9-of-12 from the foul line while playing 34 minutes. And he was elbowed in his shooting hand, banged the knee he injured in December and got hit in the head. X-rays on the hand were negative.
``We have all the respect in the world for Karl, and we wish him the best of luck whatever he does because of what he gave us for the time that he was with us,'' Utah coach Jerry Sloan said. ``I'm happy for him to have a chance to be on a great team.''
In other games, it was: Memphis 94, Toronto 88; Dallas 118, Orlando 88; Houston 111, Milwaukee 107, OT; Indiana 87, Miami 80; Boston 89, Philadelphia 65; and Golden State 105, L.A. Clippers 77.
Kobe Bryant scored 10 of his 34 points in the last two minutes; Gary Payton added 17 points, and Shaquille O'Neal had 11 points and 14 rebounds for the Lakers (50-23), who reached 50 wins for the eighth straight season not counting 1998-99 campaign, shortened to 50 games because of labor problems.
The Lakers trail Sacramento, 100-92 winners over the Washington Wizards, by two games for first in the Western Conference. The Jazz are tied with Portland for the final spot.
Raja Bell scored 16 of his career-high 26 points in the fourth quarter for the Jazz (38-36), who lost for just the third time in 10 games.
Mavericks 118, Magic 88
At Orlando, Fla., Dirk Nowitzki had 25 points and nine rebounds as Dallas handed the Magic, playing without Tracy McGrady, their eighth straight loss.
Rookie Josh Howard tied a season high with 19 points, and added 12 rebounds and five assists before fouling out, while Steve Nash had 12 points and 11 assists for Dallas, which snapped a three-game losing streak.
Grizzlies 94, Raptors 88
At Toronto, Pau Gasol had 23 points and 18 rebounds, and Jason Williams scored eight points in the last three minutes to lead Memphis to its fifth straight win.
The Grizzlies clinched the first playoff berth in the franchise's nine-year history.
Vince Carter scored 16 points on 6-for-22 shooting as Toronto lost its fourth straight.
Rockets 111, Bucks 107, OT
At Milwaukee, Yao Ming finished with 27 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks, and Houston overcame a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter and beat the Bucks in overtime.
Steve Francis finished with 23 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Maurice Taylor and Cuttino Mobley each added 19 points for Houston.
Michael Redd had 36 points and a career-high 14 rebounds for the Bucks, while Joe Smith scored a season-high 25 points.
Pacers 87, Heat 80
At Indianapolis, Jermaine O'Neal returned after missing two games with a knee injury and had 23 points and 14 rebounds to lead Indiana over Miami.
Caron Butler, Eddie Jones and Dwyane Wade each scored 14 points for the Heat, which had their seven-game winning streak end.
Celtics 89, 76ers 65
At Boston, Philadelphia set franchise records for fewest points in a half and in three quarters in a loss.
Another sign of Philadelphia's futility: it missed 65 shots while Boston took only 77.
The Celtics were led by Mark Blount, Ricky Davis and Jiri Welsch with 13 points each.
Kenny Thomas had 18 points for Philadelphia, which was playing without Allen Iverson for the fifth straight game.
Kings 100, Wizards 92
At Sacramento, Calif., Peja Stojakovic had 29 points and 11 rebounds, helping the Kings snap a two-game losing streak.
Chris Webber made four straight free throws in the final 41 seconds to hold off the Wizards. He finished with 23 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
Warriors 105, Clippers 77
At Oakland, Calif., Erick Dampier had 16 points and a career-high 25 rebounds to lead Golden State to its seventh straight win, the Warriors' longest streak since they won eight in a row April 1994.
Jason Richardson scored 20 points and rookie guard Mickael Pietrus added 17 as the Warriors handed the Clippers their eighth straight loss.
Corey Maggette led Los Angeles with 21 points.