Pacers Enjoy Rolling Start

Indiana Pacer Coach Rick Carlisle has been looking for offensive consistency all season.

He saw it for the first time Tuesday night in a 98-75 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Indianapolis.

Ron Artest had 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists to lead six Pacers in double figures in Indiana’s sixth victory in a row. NBA-leading Indiana also improved to 12-2.

“We were able to score efficiently, which is a good sign,” Carlisle said. “We’re making some improvement, and that’s what it’s all about.”

Add to that another strong defensive effort -- the Pacers are holding opponents to a league-leading 81.4 points a game -- and it made for a long night for the Timberwolves.

Kevin Garnett led the Timberwolves with 25 points and 16 rebounds. Latrell Sprewell went scoreless in 38 minutes, going 0 for 8 from the field thanks to a stellar defensive effort by Artest.

Miami 91, New Orleans 87 -- Eddie Jones and Brian Grant each made two free throws in the last 15 seconds at Miami to help the Heat beat the Hornets for the first time since April 2001, ending a seven-game regular-season losing streak.

Jones led the Heat with 25 points. Baron Davis scored 28 points for the Hornets.

Washington 81, Portland 80 -- Larry Hughes’ layup with 10 seconds left ended the Trail Blazers’ six-game home winning streak.

Hughes had 22 points for the Wizards. Zach Randolph led the Trail Blazers with 24 points.

Dallas 124, Chicago 98 -- In their first game after the firing of coach Bill Cartwright, the Bulls lost for the sixth straight time as Michael Finley scored a season-high 28 points at Dallas.

Pete Myers made his debut as the Bulls interim coach.

Tyson Chandler had 17 points for the Bulls, who lost Scottie Pippen for the game when he took an elbow to the face from Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki near the end of the first half. Team officials s aid he had a bruised left eye.

New Jersey 93, Seattle 70 -- Jason Kidd returned from a one-game injury absence to post a triple-double with 13 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, and the Nets held the SuperSonics to 25 second-half points at Seattle.

Kenyon Martin had season highs with 27 points and 14 rebounds as the Nets began a five-game Western trip.

Seattle’s 25 points in the second half broke the franchise record for fewest points in a half -- 26 set last Nov. 29.

Milwaukee 95, Philadelphia 91 -- Michael Redd scored 26 points, and rookie T.J. Ford had a season-high nine assists as the Bucks used a late 6-1 run to prevail at Milwaukee.

Allen Iverson led the 76ers, who had won eight of their last 10 games in Milwaukee, with 28 points.

Sacramento 109, Memphis 89 -- Peja Stojakovic scored 26 points at Sacramento to help the Kings beat the Grizzlies for the eighth straight time for their sixth victory in a row.

The Kings improved to 8-0 at home this season with their 15th consecutive victory at Arco Arena.

Pau Gasol had 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Grizzlies.

Denver 110, Phoenix 80 -- Carmelo Anthony led seven Nuggets in double figures with 17 points at Denver in ending the Suns’ three-game winning streak.

Phoenix’s Amare Stoudemire matched his season high with 25 points.

The Suns lost their second-leading scorer, Shawn Marion, to a sprained left ankle 2:16 into the game. He did not return.