Wade Back, Marbury Back, And Both Lose

Back on the court, not in the win column. <br/><br/>Dwyane Wade and Stephon Marbury both returned to action but came up short Wednesday night, failing to help their teams halt poor starts to the season.

Thursday, November 15th 2007, 7:45 am

By: News On 6

Back on the court, not in the win column.

Dwyane Wade and Stephon Marbury both returned to action but came up short Wednesday night, failing to help their teams halt poor starts to the season.

Former All-Stars and Olympians, both were simply reserves for one night. Wade was just starting his season with the Miami Heat, and Marbury proved that his time with the New York Knicks isn't over.

Chris Wilcox scored 20 points, Damien Wilkins added 19 and the SuperSonics spoiled Wade's return to the Heat lineup with a 104-95 victory in Miami _ Seattle's first win in nine games this season.

Kevin Durant, the highly touted rookie, finished with 18 on 6-of-16 shooting for Seattle, which stormed out to a 20-point halftime lead to negate whatever emotional lift Miami (1-7) got from Wade's comeback from offseason surgeries on his left knee and left shoulder.

``I'm excited. I came out of the game healthy and got some things I can look at to build on,'' Wade said. ``But as a team, it hurts to lose another ballgame, especially at home, in front of our fans.''

Wade scored 15 points in 25 minutes on 5-for-9 shooting for Miami, which is 0-4 at home for the second time in franchise history.

A little while later, Marbury was back, but the Knicks looked the same as when he left. They lost their fourth in a row, 84-81 to the Los Angeles Clippers.

In other games, it was: Orlando 117, Cleveland 116 in overtime; the Los Angeles Lakers 93, Houston 90; Minnesota 108, Sacramento 103; Boston 91, New Jersey 69; Washington 103, Indiana 90; Atlanta 117, Charlotte 109; Utah 92, Toronto 88; Denver 110, Portland 93; Milwaukee 102, Memphis 99; Detroit 111, Golden State 104; and New Orleans 95, Philadelphia 76.

Wade dove for loose balls, didn't seem to shy from contact and showed flashes of the explosiveness that was missing late last season when his left knee pained him. The MVP of the 2006 NBA finals had surgery on the knee and his left shoulder May 15, and the slumping Heat desperately need him back on the floor.

The Knicks weren't without Marbury for long. He skipped a loss in Phoenix on Tuesday night, and the Knicks docked him a game's pay, more than $180,000.

He rejoined the team Wednesday in Los Angeles, and scored 13 points off the bench while nearly leading the Knicks to a comeback victory.

``I'm positive all the way around. I'm covered. I'm fine. I feel good. I'm cool. I could walk with my head up,'' Marbury said. ``I feel like I could go forward and do what I have to do. I have a job to do and that's exactly what I'm going to do.''

Lakers 93, Rockets 90

Kobe Bryant scored 30 points and visiting Los Angeles took advantage of Tracy McGrady's injury to beat host Houston.

McGrady, the league's leading scorer coming into the game, strained his right elbow late in the first half when he reached in on Luke Walton. The Houston star was taken to a hospital for tests and is expected to miss about a week.

Yao Ming had 26 points, 13 rebounds and five assists for Houston, but shot only 6-of-18.

Magic 117, Cavaliers 116, OT

Dwight Howard matched a career high with 35 points and Hedo Turkoglu tied up LeBron James for a jump ball in the final second of overtime to help Orlando remain unbeaten on the road.

James finished with 39 points, 14 assists and 13 rebounds. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, James is the first player to record that many points, assists and rebounds in a game since Wilt Chamberlain in 1968.

Timberwolves 108, Kings 103

Rashad McCants scored a career-high 33 points on 13-for-22 shooting and Minnesota beat Sacramento for its first victory this season.

Ron Artest returned from his seven-game suspension with 17 points and six assists for the Kings, who have lost all five of their road games.

Celtics 91, Nets 69

The Celtics turned up the defense and the tempo while Kevin Garnett was on the bench with three fouls and improved to 7-0, their best start since they opened 10-0 in 1972-73.

Garnett had 16 points and eight rebounds, Paul Pierce scored 15 points and Ray Allen had 14.

Richard Jefferson scored 21 points for the visiting Nets.

Wizards 103, Pacers 90

Gilbert Arenas scored 20 of his 30 points in the first half and finished with 11 assists and six rebounds for Washington.

Marquis Daniels led the visiting Pacers with 19 points.

Hawks 117, Bobcats 109

Joe Johnson scored a season-high 34 points, Josh Childress added 23, also a season best, and Atlanta never trailed in a victory over Charlotte.

The Hawks' home win may have been costly, however, with two starters going down with injuries. Josh Smith, who had 15 points and five blocks, strained his left quad strain early in the third quarter and did not return. The Hawks also lost rookie point guard Acie Law with a left ankle sprain with 6:47 left in the third period.

Gerald Wallace and Jason Richardson led the Bobcats with 27 points apiece.

Jazz 92, Raptors 88

Carlos Boozer had 23 points and 14 rebounds, Deron Williams scored 22 points, and Utah beat Toronto for its fifth straight victory.

Anthony Parker had 19 points for the Raptors, who dropped to 1-3 at home.

Nuggets 110, Trail Blazers 93

Carmelo Anthony had 25 points and Allen Iverson had 20 to lead Denver to its fourth straight win.

LaMarcus Aldridge had 15 points and nine rebounds for the visiting Trail Blazers.

Pistons 111, Warriors 104

Rasheed Wallace scored 13 of his 22 points during a furious fourth-quarter rally, and injury-plagued Detroit improbably came back from a 22-point deficit for a road victory in its fifth game in seven days.

Baron Davis had 29 points and 10 assists for Golden State, which remained the NBA's only winless team at 0-6 after an embarrassing collapse. Even worse, the Warriors had the previous five days off before facing the exhausted Pistons, who played without Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess.

Hornets 95, 76ers 76

Morris Peterson hit six 3-pointers and finished with 27 points to help the Hornets beat Philadelphia for its third straight victory before another small crowd in New Orleans Arena.

Willie Green scored 20 points for the Sixers, who have lost four straight. Andre Miller added 17 points.

Bucks 102, Grizzlies 99

Desmond Mason hit a 14-foot jumper with 13.6 seconds left, and Memphis' Pau Gasol missed a tying 3-pointer.

Michael Redd scored 31 points, and Andrew Bogut had 23 points and 12 rebounds to help Milwaukee overcome a bad early shooting effort. The Bucks have won all three of their home games.