Raymond Felton

J.R. Smith sank a baseline 21-footer at the buzzer after a Phoenix turnover with a second to play, giving the depleted New York Knicks a 99-97 victory over the host Suns on Wednesday night. Smith's tough jumper from 15 feet had tied it at 97 with 10.6 seconds left. Then, after the turnover, Jason Kidd inbounded to Smith, who got the shot off as he sailed toward the out-of-bounds line. Smith scored 27 and Kidd added 23. Jared Dudley had a career-high 36 points for Phoenix, including two free throws that put the Suns ahead 97-95 with 34.5 seconds to go. New York was without the NBA's No. 2 scorer Carmelo Anthony (hyperextended knee)

Jeremy Lin will soon be signing a three-year contract for $25.1 million, a sum of money that many people might describe as ridiculous for a player with such little experience as an NBA starter. One of those people is superstar Carmelo Anthony, who might still be Lin's teammate if the New York Knicks decide to match the Houston Rockets' offer for the restricted free agent. “It's up to the organization to say they want to match that ridiculous contract that's out there," Anthony told reporters Sunday before practice with the U.S. Olympic team.

Lakers tonight VS. CHARLOTTE When: 7:30. Where: Staples Center. On the air: TV: FS West; Radio: 710, 1330. Records: Lakers 37-12, Bobcats 24-23. Record vs. Bobcats (2008-09): 0-2. Update: The Bobcats have won their last three games at Staples Center, including a 117-110 double-overtime victory last season. Two Bobcats almost had triple-doubles in that game: Raymond Felton (21 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists)

Raymond Felton had 25 points, rookie D.J. Augustin scored 11 of his 20 in overtime, and the Charlotte Bobcats stunned Boston, 114-106, on Tuesday to continue the Celtics' sudden slide. Beaten by their surprising nemesis for the second time in two seasons, the defending champions have quickly gone from unbeatable to vulnerable. After a team-record 19-game winning streak and an NBA-record 27-2 start, the Celtics lost for the fifth time in seven games.

LAKERS AT NEW YORK When: 5 PST. Where: Madison Square Garden. On the air: TV: TNT; Radio: 710, 1330. Records: Lakers 9-13, Knicks 16-5. Record vs. Knicks (2011-12): 1-1. Update: The Knicks are the NBA's most surprising team, going 8-0 at home amid whispers of Carmelo Anthony as an MVP candidate. The Knicks have done it without Amare Stoudemire, who hasn't played yet because of a sore knee. Point guard Raymond Felton has had a rejuvenating season, averaging 15.8 points and 6.8 assists.

Time: 6:30. On the air: TV: Prime Ticket; Radio: 980, 1330. Where: Staples Center. Records: Clippers 1-2; Trail Blazers 3-0. Update: The Clippers face yet another tough opponent in the undefeated Trail Blazers. The Clippers have lost five straight to the Trail Blazers, 12 of their last 14 games. Portland doesn't have All-Star Brandon Roy, who retired because of knee problems. Portland does still have power forward LaMarcus Aldridge (20.7 points per game)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Ray Allen made a three-point basket at the buzzer after Eddie House knocked away Jason Richardson's inbounds pass with 4.7 seconds left to give the Boston Celtics a 96-95 win over the Charlotte Bobcats on Saturday night. Allen had missed 11 of his previous 14 shots, yet hit nothing but net on the shot from the left wing. "The minute Eddie touched the ball, it was like everything went into slow motion," Allen said. "The ball just came in the air in slow motion.

Gerald Wallace had 23 points and 13 rebounds, and the Charlotte Bobcats defeated the New York Knicks, 114-105, on Saturday night for their franchise-record sixth consecutive victory. Boris Diaw scored 22 points for the Bobcats, who have the longest current winning streak in the Eastern Conference and have won nine of their last 13 games in their bid to land a playoff berth in Larry Brown's first season as coach. Charlotte pulled to within a game of Chicago for eighth place.

MIAMI AT NEW YORK: Friday, 4 p.m. PST. TV: ESPN There are several intriguing matchups on national TV this week (Boston at New York on Wednesday, San Antonio at Denver on Thursday), but we'll go with this Paparazzi Special. This one not only matches the coming Heat against the coming Knicks, it pits the ESPN task force covering the Heat against the mighty Gotham press corps, which was unchallenged before the rise of cable TV. The Heat's recent rally is no surprise, except perhaps to LeBron James or whoever put out those distress signals pointing at Coach Erik Spoelstra.