Jamal Crawford

at Atlanta 125, Denver 100: Jamal Crawford scored 25 points for the Hawks, and Josh Smith had 22 points, nine rebounds, six blocked shots and seven assists. Carmelo Anthony had 30 points for the Nuggets, who lost their second straight. Boston 86, at New Jersey 76: Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce each scored 16 points, and the Celtics bounced back from their first loss of the season to beat the winless Nets. at Chicago 93, Charlotte 90: John Salmons scored 27 points, and Joakim Noah had a career-high 21 points and 16 rebounds as the Bulls won their third straight game.

The madness shifts gears What's the difference between Linsanity and insanity? One L too many for the New York Knicks. Of course, it wasn't the Knicks having lost eight of their previous 10 games that prompted Coach Mike D'Antoni to resign Wednesday as much as it was D'Antoni having failed in his efforts to coexist with forward Carmelo Anthony. D'Antoni's offensive system is ideally suited to player and ball movement; Anthony prefers to have the ball in his hands and to take as many shots as possible.

at Atlanta 118, Chicago 83: Jamal Crawford scored a season-high 29 points for the Hawks, who opened the second half with a 20-4 run. The Bulls have lost four games in a row and nine of 10. They trailed by as many as 30 points in the third quarter. Detroit 90, at Philadelphia 86: Rodney Stuckey scored 27 points and made the winning basket with 8.7 seconds left, sending the 76ers to their 11th consecutive loss. Allen Iverson scored 11 points for the 76ers and tied the score, 86-86, with 1:06 left.

With ample time on their hands because of the strike, some of the elite players in the NBA are taking part in  an exhibition game next month to raise money for President Obama's reelection campaign. The game is set for 4 p.m. on Dec. 12 in Washington, D.C. No word yet on the exact location. A total of 34 active and retired basketball players -- including women's stars Cheryl Miller and Tina Thompson - are signed up to compete in the "Obama Classic. " Filmmaker and diehard Knicks fan Spike Lee will serve as guest coach.

at Atlanta 93, Boston 85: Jamal Crawford scored 18 points, and the Hawks beat the Celtics for the second time this season. Dallas 112, at San Antonio 103: Dirk Nowitzki scored 26 points, 16 in the fourth quarter, when the Mavericks rallied from a 10-point deficit. at Denver 99, Cleveland 97: The Nuggets won without injured Carmelo Anthony, and despite LeBron James' 35 points for the Cavaliers. Miami 109, at Phoenix 105: Dwyane Wade had 33 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for the Heat.

Jamal Crawford made a long three-pointer at the buzzer to cap an Atlanta rally in the final seconds, giving the Hawks a 102-101 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Friday night. The home team trailed 100-96 after Steve Nash made two free throws with 10 seconds left. But Atlanta squeezed two more possessions out of the clock, and Phoenix missed a couple of chances to put the Hawks away. After Amare Stoudemire missed one of two free throws with three seconds left, Mike Bibby inbounded the ball to Crawford, who made a 28-footer over Jared Dudley.

Joe Johnson scored 24 points, Jamal Crawford had 18 and the Atlanta Hawks pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 97-86 win over the Boston Celtics on Friday night. Josh Smith scored 14 and Al Horford had 12 points and 13 rebounds as the Hawks (7-2) continued their strong start, sending Boston to its second straight Friday night home loss. Last week, Phoenix gave Boston (8-2) its first loss of the season after a 7-0 start. Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 24 points despite bruising his left knee early in the third quarter.

Clippers tonight AT ATLANTA When: 4 p.m. PST. Where: Philips Arena. On the air: TV: Prime; Radio: 980. Records: Clippers 21-27; Atlanta 30-17. Record vs. Atlanta (2008-09): 1-1. Update: The Clippers' eight-game, 14-day trip concludes against the Hawks, who have lost three of their last four games but feature two dynamic guards in Joe Johnson and Jamal Crawford. "They're athletic all the way across the board," Clippers forward Marcus Camby said.

Behind 50 points from Jamal Crawford, the Golden State Warriors beat the Charlotte Bobcats, 110-103, Saturday night, giving Coach Don Nelson a win in his first game with a new coaching structure. Nelson yielded control of the NBA's worst defense to assistant Keith Smart, and the Warriors did just enough at that end and let Crawford dominate on offense. Crawford was 14 for 26 from the field and five for eight from three-point range, and made 17 of 18 free throws.

Joe Johnson scored 28 points, Josh Smith had 18 and the Atlanta Hawks won in Utah for the first time in 17 years, defeating the short-handed Jazz, 105-100, on Monday night. Johnson scored 11 points in the fourth quarter, including a three-point basket with 2 minutes 28 seconds left that gave the Hawks a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Jamal Crawford, who had 17 points, followed Johnson's long shot with a steal and two free throws and the Jazz lost for only the third time in 20 games.

Wilson Chandler scored a season-high 31 points, and the New York Knicks overwhelmed the San Antonio Spurs with a sensational offensive performance, cooling off the NBA leaders with a 128-115 victory Tuesday night at New York. Amare Stoudemire and Raymond Felton added 28 apiece for the Knicks, who snapped the Spurs' four-game winning streak and dropped them to 29-5. New York rang up the highest point total San Antonio has allowed this season, shooting 55% and leading most of the way in its second straight victory.

This was the kind of game, the kind of matchup that easily could get Kobe Bryant's attention. The Atlanta Hawks have an All-Star guard in Joe Johnson, a 6-foot-7, 240-pound athlete who also has free rein in his team's offense. Numbers-wise, it was pretty much even between Bryant and Johnson. Bryant had 28 points on 12-for-21 shooting. Johnson 25 points on 10-for-20 shooting. Though they didn't guard each other the entire game, Johnson got the upper hand because his team defeated the Lakers, 109-92, Wednesday night at Philips Arena and because Johnson played a bigger role for his team in the second half.

Joe Johnson scored 28 points, Josh Smith had 18 and the Atlanta Hawks won in Utah for the first time in 17 years, defeating the short-handed Jazz, 105-100, on Monday night. Johnson scored 11 points in the fourth quarter, including a three-point basket with 2 minutes 28 seconds left that gave the Hawks a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Jamal Crawford, who had 17 points, followed Johnson's long shot with a steal and two free throws and the Jazz lost for only the third time in 20 games.

Clippers tonight AT ATLANTA When: 4 p.m. PST. Where: Philips Arena. On the air: TV: Prime; Radio: 980. Records: Clippers 21-27; Atlanta 30-17. Record vs. Atlanta (2008-09): 1-1. Update: The Clippers' eight-game, 14-day trip concludes against the Hawks, who have lost three of their last four games but feature two dynamic guards in Joe Johnson and Jamal Crawford. "They're athletic all the way across the board," Clippers forward Marcus Camby said.

Jamal Crawford made a long three-pointer at the buzzer to cap an Atlanta rally in the final seconds, giving the Hawks a 102-101 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Friday night. The home team trailed 100-96 after Steve Nash made two free throws with 10 seconds left. But Atlanta squeezed two more possessions out of the clock, and Phoenix missed a couple of chances to put the Hawks away. After Amare Stoudemire missed one of two free throws with three seconds left, Mike Bibby inbounded the ball to Crawford, who made a 28-footer over Jared Dudley.

at Atlanta 93, Boston 85: Jamal Crawford scored 18 points, and the Hawks beat the Celtics for the second time this season. Dallas 112, at San Antonio 103: Dirk Nowitzki scored 26 points, 16 in the fourth quarter, when the Mavericks rallied from a 10-point deficit. at Denver 99, Cleveland 97: The Nuggets won without injured Carmelo Anthony, and despite LeBron James' 35 points for the Cavaliers. Miami 109, at Phoenix 105: Dwyane Wade had 33 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for the Heat.

Michigan's leading scorer, freshman Jamal Crawford, must repay Seattle businessman Barry Henthorn an estimated $15,000 before he completes his college eligibility, the NCAA has ruled. Crawford is practicing with the team and attending classes, but cannot play until Feb. 24, against Purdue.

at Charlotte 94, Cleveland 87: Gerald Wallace had 31 points and 14 rebounds while outplaying LeBron James, and the Cavaliers looked disjointed in Shaquille O'Neal's return from injury. The Bobcats won their third straight game after a seven-game losing streak. at Sacramento 109, New Jersey 96: The Nets fell to 0-16, one loss from tying the worst start in NBA history. To avoid equaling the record they would have to beat the Lakers on Sunday. Memphis 106, at Portland 96: Zach Randolph's 21 points led five Grizzlies in double figures as Memphis stunned the Trail Blazers.

Mike Bresnahan covers the Lakers for The Times. Readers' questions about the Lakers will be answered every Friday at latimes.com/sports. Q: What in the world is happening to our Lakers? What is so great about Odom? He is right under the basket, and he can't make it because he NEVER jumps . . . He throws it away many times. . . . Yuck!!!!!! They'll never win it this year unless they start playing basketball. . . . Where is their defense? I could go on and on . . . Makes us sick even to watch it. . . . Happy New Year!

at Atlanta 118, Chicago 83: Jamal Crawford scored a season-high 29 points for the Hawks, who opened the second half with a 20-4 run. The Bulls have lost four games in a row and nine of 10. They trailed by as many as 30 points in the third quarter. Detroit 90, at Philadelphia 86: Rodney Stuckey scored 27 points and made the winning basket with 8.7 seconds left, sending the 76ers to their 11th consecutive loss. Allen Iverson scored 11 points for the 76ers and tied the score, 86-86, with 1:06 left.