Karl Is a Big Success in Return to Coaching

George Karl made a triumphant return to the NBA at the expense of his former team.

“I’m going to drink beer,” Karl said after directing the Denver Nuggets to a 106-100 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night at Milwaukee. “Beer tastes like champagne after wins like tonight.”

Out of the NBA since the Bucks fired him in 2003, Karl took over the Nuggets on Thursday. Denver fired Jeff Bzdelik on Dec. 28, and Michael Cooper coached the team on an interim basis before Karl’s hiring.

Acknowledging that he was rusty, Karl gave most of the credit to his players for the victory and said he coached against his former team as if it were a playoff game.

“You always want to win against your former team,” Denver’s Marcus Camby said. “He didn’t say publicly he wanted to beat the Bucks, but you could just tell he wanted this one real bad.”

Carmelo Anthony scored 25 points for Denver, which overcame a 14-point deficit to end a three-game losing streak.

New Orleans 99, Philadelphia 95 -- P.J. Brown scored six of his season-high 20 points in overtime and had 10 rebounds to lead the Hornets at New Orleans.

Dan Dickau had 19 points and a career-high 16 assists for New Orleans, which played without guard Baron Davis, who was put on the injured list because of a bruised right Achilles’ tendon.

The 76ers were without Allen Iverson, who sat out because of a strained left shoulder.

Orlando 108, Washington 101 -- Hedo Turkoglu matched his career high with 31 points -- 17 in the second quarter at Orlando, Fla. -- and the Magic ended the Wizards’ four-game winning streak.

Grant Hill had 22 points and eight rebounds for Orlando, and Steve Francis made two free throws with 16.6 seconds left to secure the victory.

Miami 106, Atlanta 96 -- Shaquille O’Neal scored 26 points and made more free throws than he missed to lead the Heat at Atlanta. O’Neal finished six for 11 at the foul line -- an improvement over his seven-for-20 showing in a victory at Toronto two nights earlier.

New York 99, Cleveland 96 -- Penny Hardaway showed no rust in his first game in more than three weeks, making a jump shot with 36 seconds left at New York to help the Knicks end a seven-game losing streak.

Sacramento 117, Houston 111 -- Chris Webber scored 30 points, including a three-point basket to force overtime, at Houston to lead the Kings, who played without Peja Stojakovic for the second game in a row because he had back spasms.

Phoenix 128, Boston 119 -- Amare Stoudemire scored 42 points and Quentin Richardson had 23 at Boston to lead the Suns to their fourth consecutive victory and end the Celtics’ five-game home winning streak.

Seattle 88, Golden State 85 -- Rashard Lewis scored 24 points and made a key jump shot with 46 seconds left, and Ray Allen had 26 points to lead the SuperSonics, who ended a three-game losing streak at Oakland.

Charlotte 101, Toronto 94 -- Former Laker Kareem Rush scored 21 points and the Bobcats made 17 of 19 free throws at Charlotte, N.C., to end a 10-game losing streak.

Minnesota 93, Utah 91 -- Kevin Garnett had 25 points and a key steal in the final minute at Minneapolis to help lead the Timberwolves to their fifth consecutive victory.