Stars shine as Milan defeat Blues15 advance Real19 Madrid WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2014

Before transfer window, scramble for new managers Page 19

NEW YORK: ’ Mason Plumlee (1) guards Sacramento Kings’ DeMarcus Cousins (15) during the second half of an NBA game. The Nets won the game 107-99. — AP Nets snare Kings

NEW YORK: Mason Plumlee continued his impressive play with a BUCKS 104, HORNETS 94 team-high 22 points, Joe Johnson and Jarret Jack each scored 16, Brandon Knight scored 18 points, including a layup to force and the Brooklyn Nets held on to beat the Sacramento Kings 107- overtime, and Milwaukee pulled away to beat Charlotte. Jared 99 on Monday night. had 25 points and DeMarcus Dudley scored 17 points, Giannis Antetokounm had 16, Zaza Cousins added 24 points and 13 rebounds for the Kings, who’ve Pachulia had 15, O.J. Mayo had 13 and John Henson added 11 for lost 13 of their last 17 games. the Bucks (16-16), who snapped a seven-game losing streak to the came off the bench and chipped in 11 points for Hornets dating back to the 2011-2012 season. the Nets, who bounced back from a 25-point loss to Indiana on Kemba Walker scored 28 points, Gerald Henderson added 19 Saturday night at Barclays and won for the fourth time in and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist scored 10 for the Hornets (10-22), who their last five games. The Nets led 93-83 with 5:53 left in the fourth fought back from a 21-point deficit in the first half. quarter after a layup by Deron Williams, but Gay then scored five Walker’s layup with 54.5 seconds remaining gave Charlotte an straight points in a 26-second span, including a 3-pointer, that cut 83-81 lead, but Knight followed up his own blocked shot for a the lead to 93-88 with 5:12 to play. layup with 16 seconds left to tie the score and force overtime. Milwaukee then pulled ahead for good on Henson’s three- CLIPPERS 101, JAZZ 97 point play with 3:51 left in overtime. The Bucks led by 13 points in scored 24 points and Los Angeles beat Utah for its the extra period. 12th straight victory over the Jazz, breaking the franchise record for consecutive losses against one club. BULLS 92, PACERS 90 Chris Paul finished with 20 points and eight assists. DeAndre Jimmy Butler had 27 points and nine rebounds to lead Jordan had 19 rebounds for the two-time defending Pacific Chicago to a victory over Indiana. Pau Gasol had 20 points and Division champions. The Clippers blocked 12 shots and never added 17 for the Bulls (22-9), who have won seven trailed in the fourth quarter despite leading by no more than five straight. Chris Copeland scored 13 of his 17 points in the fourth points at any point.The previous franchise record for wins by the quarter, and George Hill and C.J. Miles each added 11 points for Clippers against one team was set against the Dallas Mavericks. the Pacers (11-21), who trailed by as much as 21 points in the sec- The Clippers are 10-6 in December with one game left. ond half. Butler scored a 3-pointer with 1:07 remaining to put the Gordon Hayward scored 22 points for the Jazz and Rudy Bulls ahead for good 92-90. That was after the Pacers went on a Gobert added 13 rebounds and 11 points off the bench. Shooting 23-2 run and regained the lead on Lavoy Allen’s basket to make it guard Alec Burks missed his second straight game because of 84-83 with 6:15 left in the fourth quarter. Chicago tied the four- chronic soreness in his left shoulder. He also sat out two games game season series with the Pacers at 1-1 and won for the first early this month for the same reason. time at Indiana after losing the previous four games.

MAGIC 102, HEAT 101 WIZARDS 104, ROCKETS 103 Nikola Vucevic scored 26 points, scored seven of Bradley Beal scored 33 points and Paul Pierce added 21, and his 22 in the final minutes and Orlando beat Miami. Oladipo had a Washington survived a furious fourth-quarter charge by Houston layup to tie it, then a to put the Magic ahead to stay to beat the Rockets. and give them their first win against Miami in 11 tries. Nene added 12 points to go with five rebounds, and John Wall Tobias Harris scored 18 for the Magic, who got 13 from racked up 12 assists to go with 13 points for Washington, which Channing Frye. Dwyane Wade scored 25 points for Miami, which won its third straight to open a five-game road trip. has lost 12 of 18 at home. Danny Granger had 21 points and Chris scored 33 points __ including a 3-pointer with Bosh scored 20 in his return after missing eight games with a under a second to go in regulation to get Houston within a point strained left calf. __ and Corey Brewer added 15 from the bench for the Rockets. Granger was 6 for 7 from 3-point range, including one that put Houston outscored the Wizards on second-chance points Miami up 101-97 with 1:38 left. The Heat didn’t score again. (18-9) and points in the paint (50-34) but was plagued by poor There were nine lead changes and four ties in the fourth quar- shooting. Washington had no such issues, shooting nearly 93 ter, with the Magic knotting the game at 101-all when Oladipo percent from the free-throw line and 44.4 percent from beyond drove by Wade and scored with 45 seconds left. the arc. — AP NBA results/standings Milwaukee 104, Charlotte 94 (OT); Chicago 92, Indiana 90; Brooklyn 107, Sacramento 99; Orlando 102, Miami 101; Washington 104, Houston 103; LA Clippers 101, Utah 97. Eastern Conference Southeast Division Pacific Division Atlantic Division Atlanta 22 8 .733 - Golden State 24 5 .828 - W L PCT GB Washington 22 8 .733 - LA Clippers 21 11 .656 4.5 Toronto 24 7 .774 - Miami 14 18 .438 9 Brooklyn 14 16 .467 9.5 Phoenix 18 14 .563 7.5 Orlando 13 21 .382 11 Sacramento 13 18 .419 12 Boston 10 18 .35712.5 Charlotte 10 22 .313 13 NY Knicks 5 28 .152 20 LA Lakers 9 22 .290 16 Western Conference Philadelphia 4 25 .138 19 Southwest Division Northwest Division Central Division Memphis 22 8 .733 - Chicago 22 9 .710 - Portland 25 7 .781 - Houston 21 9 .700 1 Cleveland 18 12 .600 3.5 Oklahoma City 15 17 .469 10 Milwaukee 16 16 .500 6.5 Denver 13 18 .41911.5 Dallas 22 10 .688 1 Indiana 11 21 .34411.5 Utah 10 21 .32314.5 San Antonio 19 13 .594 4 Detroit 7 23 .23314.5 Minnesota 5 24 .17218.5 New Orleans 15 15 .500 7