In race for playoffs, Nets beat Pacers

BROOKLYN 123 INDIANA 111

Brook Lopez had 26 points and four blocked shots to lead the Brooklyn Nets to a 123-111 victory over the slumping Indiana Pacers on Saturday night in Indianapolis.

Bojan Bogdanovic had 21 points and five rebounds off the bench, and Deron Williams scored 17 for the Nets, who have won four of five.

George Hill had 18 points and nine assists, and Luis Scola and Solomon Hill each finished with 17 points for the Pacers (30-39), who have lost five straight.

The Nets (29-39) used an 11-0 run in the second half to take the lead. A win for the Pacers would have put them in sole possession of eighth place in the Eastern Conference. Instead, the Nets closed the gap in a crowded race for the final playoff spot.

at Detroit 107, Chicago 91: Regg ie Jackson had 22 points, including 17 in the third quarter, and the Pistons came back from a 19-point deficit to beat the Bulls. The Pistons trailed 72-53 with seven minutes left in the third quarter, but got a combined 27 points and 13 assists from Jackson and fellow point guard Spencer Dinwiddie in the second half.

at Memphis 97, Portland 86: Jeff Green had 23 points and Mike Conley scored 21 with nine assists to lead the Grizzlies to a victory over the Trail Blazers. Zach Randolph added 17 points for Memphis, which won its second straight. Marc Gasol had 13 points, and Tony Allen finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Damian Lillard led the Trail Blazers with 27 points and seven assists.

Phoenix 117, at Houston 102: Eric Bledsoe had a career-high 34 points and the Suns withstood a fourth-quarter charge by the Rockets. Bledsoe scored 23 by halftime and surpassed his previous career best of 33 points, set earlier this season, on a free throw with about a minute remaining.

at Golden State 106, Utah 91: Stephen Curry bounced back from his worst shooting performance of the season to score 24 points, Leandro Barbosa added a season-high 19 off the bench. One day after making four of 17 shots in a win over New Orleans, Curry went eight for 18 from the floor against a Utah defense that had been the NBA’s stingiest over the past three weeks. Draymond Green added 15 points for the Warriors (56-13), who have the best record in the NBA.