The New York Knicks scored 16 of the last 20 points of the game to roar past the Houston Rockets, who felt the absence of the injured centre Yao Ming in falling 104-98 at Madison Square Garden on Monday night.
With the diminutive Nate Robinson and forwards David Lee and Wilson Chandler penetrating to the hoop, the Knicks (19-25) overcame a 94-88 deficit with their surge to upset Houston (28-18).
"Well obviously Yao is a big part of that team and that changes everything," the Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni said about the Chinese centre.
Meanwhile, Peja Stojakovic drilled five consecutive three -pointers in the first 3:24 of the final quarter to help the New Orleans Hornets beat the Philadelphia 76ers 101-86.
Shaquille O'Neal had 29 points and eight rebounds in 36 minutes of a back-to-back performance to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 103-87 victory over the Washington Wizards.
Brandon Roy scored 33 points to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a 113-88 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Roy hit 11-of-15 shots from the field, including both three-pointers and all eight free throws that he attempted, to help the Blazers to their second straight win.
Playing their first game without their leading scorer Michael Redd - who is ruled out for the season with a knee injury - the Milwaukee Bucks fell apart in the third quarter as they went down 90-83 to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Kevin Durant scored 18 points to lead five players in double figures and the Oklahoma City Thunder staved off a big rally for a 94-85 victory over the New Jersey Nets. Jeff Green and rookie Russell Westbrook each scored 13 points for the Thunder, who won for the fifth time in eight games.
* With Agencies
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
The specs
Engine: 2.2-litre, turbodiesel
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Power: 160hp
Torque: 385Nm
Price: Dh116,900
On sale: now
The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Power: 272hp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 331Nm from 5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.7L/100km
On sale: now
Price: Dh149,000
The%20specs
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