The Los Angeles Clippers filled their void in the post Friday, acquiring forward Zach Randolph and guard Mardy Collins from the New York Knicks for Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas.
The Clippers had been lacking an inside presence since Elton Brand left in July to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers. Brand made a 15-footer with 57 seconds left in Philadelphia's 89-88 victory over the Clippers on Friday night, dropping Los Angeles to 2-10. The loss to the Sixers was a good example of why coach/general manager Mike Dunleavy decided to shake up the roster before the season slipped away.
"We're looking for ways to become more competitive," he said.
Randolph, the 19th overall pick in the 2001 draft, led the Knicks with 20.5 points and 12.5 rebounds. He has career averages of 16.4 points and 8.2 rebounds over seven seasons.
In games:
Celtics 95, Timberwolves 78: Make no mistake: Kevin Garnett still owns Target Center.
In his first game on the court since being traded before last season, Garnett scored 17 points for Boston. Al Jefferson scored 23 points for Minnesota. But he shot just 8-of-20 and the Timberwolves were shooting only 23 percent heading into the fourth quarter before finishing at 31 percent.
The Celtics outscored Minnesota 35-10 in the decisive third quarter, with Garnett, who made 8 of 12 from the field, putting away two alley-oop passes and throwing down two more dunks to the delight of hundreds of fans wearing his No. 5 Celtics jersey and still more sporting his old blue No. 21.
Nets 129, Raptors 127: Vince Carter gave Toronto fans a brand new reason to boo him scoring 39 points against his former team. Devin Harris also added 30 as New Jersey rallied from an 18-point, third-quarter deficit to win in overtime.
Carter sent the game to overtime by make a three-pointer with 0.8 seconds remaining in regulation, capping a stretch that saw him score 12 consecutive points. Toronto's Chris Bosh, who had 42 points.
Rockets 103, Wizards 91: Tracy McGrady scored 14 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter and Yao Ming added 18. Yao, back in the lineup after missing one game with a sore left foot, had his first look at 7-foot rookie JaVale McGee, whose 7-foot-6 wingspan matches Yao's heights.
Antawn Jamison scored a season-high 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Wizards, whose 1-9 record is the franchise's worst start since the 1966 Baltimore Bullets opened 1-10.
Magic 100, Pacers 98: Dwight Howard had 24 points, 17 rebounds and five blocks for Orlando in its overtime victory.
Rashard Lewis scored 23 points for the Magic and made what turned out to be the game-winning basket with 23 seconds left in overtime. Jameer Nelson added 22 points and nine assists in Orlando's fifth consecutive victory.
Mavericks 91, Grizzlies 76: After an 0-4 home start Dallas won on its court behind Dirk Nowitzki's 25 points and 10 rebounds and Jason Kidd's 18 points and 13 rebounds.
