Parker inspires Spurs to win over Jazz

Point guard Tony Parker had 25 points and nine assists as the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Utah Jazz 109-105.

Spurs starters scored in double figures as San Antonio (31-8) got its sixth straight win.

Utah (13-27) was without leading scorer Gordon Hayward, who missed his third straight game with a left hip flexor. The Jazz were led by center Enes Kanter, who had 25 points and 11 rebounds off the bench.

John Wall paced seven double figure scorers with 25 points as the Washington Wizards opened up a 34-point first half lead and crushed the Miami Heat.

The Wizards (18-19) entered the game with a 1-14 record versus teams with winning records, but they blasted the two-time defending champions.

LeBron James scored 25 for the Heat (27-11), who have lost three straight games in regular season play for the first time since Jan. 13 2012.

Heat center Greg Oden played nine minutes and had six points in his first NBA game since December 5, 2009.

Houston guard James Harden exploded for 18 of his team-high 26 points in the second half, including eight of his team’s final 11 points, to lift the Rockets to a victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Rockets (26-14) outscored the Pelicans 11-1 in the final 2:50, erasing a 10-point New Orleans lead, sending the Pelicans (15-23) to their seventh consecutive loss.

Rudy Gay scored a season-high 33 points, including a three-pointer with 19.5 seconds left, to send the Sacramento Kings past the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Isiah Thomas scored 26 points and center DeMarcus Cousins added 20.

Sacramento (14-23), in control most of the night, held off a late rush by the Timberwolves (18-20), who got 27 points and 11 points from forward Kevin Love.