Rookie gives Hawks rare show of heroics

First-round pick saves day with game-winning shot, block

? Josh Smith scored the tiebreaking basket off an offensive rebound with 17.6 seconds left, then blocked a shot to keep the lead as the Atlanta Hawks snapped a nine-game losing streak with a 96-92 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night.

One day after turning 19, the teen was a major reason the Hawks won for only the third time in 17 games this season, overcoming a season-high 36 points by Allen Iverson.

The 76ers squandered an 11-point lead in the first half.

Marc Jackson hit an open jumper with 40.9 seconds remaining, pulling Philadelphia even at 92. The Hawks put the ball in the hands of Al Harrington, who backed in on Aaron McKie with the shot clock winding down.

Harrington’s shot came up short, but Smith pulled down the rebound and dropped in the follow over Kenny Thomas to put the Hawks ahead.

After a timeout, Iverson drove along the baseline and found McKie open in the corner for a three-pointer. But Smith soared through the air to block the shot, the Hawks picked up the loose ball and Harrington was fouled.

He made both free throws with 8.5 seconds to go, sealing the victory.

Nets 88, Raptors 86

East Rutherford, N.J. — Jason Kidd made his season debut and assisted on Richard Jefferson’s game-winning jumper from the lane with 7.1 seconds left as New Jersey defeated Toronto.

After sitting out the first 16 games recovering from left knee surgery, Kidd had 10 points, six rebounds and three assists in 21 minutes.

Philadelphia's Allen Iverson tries to get past Atlanta forward Jason Collier. The Hawks won, 96-92, Monday night in Atlanta.

Jefferson had 26 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for the Nets.

Vince Carter had 22 points for Toronto, but he missed a driving layup just before the final buzzer that would have sent the game to overtime.

On the game-winning play, Kidd passed to Jefferson on the right wing, and Jefferson dribbled to his left before pulling up for a nine-footer.

Spurs 91, Bulls 75

Chicago — Tony Parker scored 17 points, and Tim Duncan had his 16th double-double of the season to help San Antonio win its eighth straight.

Duncan finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Manu Ginobili and Devin Brown added 12 points each. Though the victory improved the Spurs to an NBA-best 16-3, this certainly wasn’t their best showing. They had 21 turnovers, two shy of their season high, and shot less than 41 percent.

Pistons 101, Mavs 85

Dallas — Chauncey Billups tied his season high with 24 points, and Richard Hamilton scored 13 of his 19 in the third quarter for Detroit.

The Pistons took a 10-point lead into halftime, then stretched it to 21 in the third quarter.

Dirk Nowitzki went just 6-of-24 from the field, but managed 27 points after making 15 of 16 from the free-throw line. Jerry Stackhouse added 13 for the Mavericks.

Dallas lost at home for the fourth time after losing only five home games last season.

Heat 100, Jazz 80

Salt Lake City — Shaquille O’Neal pulled down his 10,000th career rebound, and Damon Jones scored 21 points with a career-best seven three-pointers to lead Miami past slumping Utah.

Dwyane Wade added 23 points and 12 rebounds for the Heat, who swept the season series against the Jazz for the first time and got their first win at Utah in four years.

O’Neal needed eight rebounds entering the game to become the 31st player with 10,000 career boards.

He finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds.

Nuggets 115, Magic 102

Denver — Andre Miller scored 29 points, and Carmelo Anthony added 28 for Denver.

Kenyon Martin scored 23 points, and Miller also had seven assists for the Nuggets, who pushed the ball whenever they could against the Magic.

Dwight Howard and Steve Francis led the Magic with 23 points apiece. Grant Hill added 20 for Orlando.

Warriors 110, Celtics 106

Oakland, Calif. — Troy Murphy had a career-high 30 points and 15 rebounds to help Golden State win.

Boston had a chance to win it with 20 seconds left, but Paul Pierce airballed a jumper.

Pierce finished with 26 points and five rebounds. Jiri Welsch scored a career-high 24 points, and Gary Payton had 12 points and a season-best 11 assists.

Clippers 99, Bobcats 93, 2OT

Los Angeles — Corey Maggette scored four of his 33 points in the second overtime, and the Los Angeles Clippers survived the fourth-quarter ejection of Elton Brand to beat the Bobcats.