NEW ORLEANS—David West scored 37 points, and the New Orleans Hornets overcame an early 15-point deficit to defeat the Boston Celtics, 113-106, in the National Basketball Association on Saturday.

Chris Paul, despite playing only 28 minutes because of foul trouble, had 19 points and hit a pair of clutch jumpers in the waning minutes, as New Orleans added a win over the mighty Celtics to recent triumphs over San Antonio, the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston.

Paul Pierce had 16 of his 28 points in the first quarter and the Celtics shot better than 60 percent and led by double digits until well into the third. But Boston seemed to tire in the fourth as New Orleans surged to its ninth straight victory at home while stopping Boston’s road-winning streak at eight.

In Philadelphia, Andre Iguodala scored 19 of his 28 points in the second half, Samuel Dalembert had 11 points, 18 rebounds and five blocks, and Philadelphia beat New Jersey.

Vince Carter led New Jersey with 27 points, but was only 10-for-25 from the floor. Richard Jefferson was held to 11 points on three-for-15 shooting.

In Atlanta, Joe Johnson scored 34 points, Mike Bibby had 20 and Josh Smith 19 in Atlanta’s sixth-straight home victory over Orlando.

The Magic dropped to 22-2 on the road when entering the fourth quarter with a lead. Hedo Turkoglu led Orlando with 18 points.

In Milwaukee, Mo Williams scored 27 points and Milwaukee snapped a six-game losing streak by beating Cleveland.

LeBron James scored 29 to lead Cleveland, which has won nine straight at home, but lost seven of the last eight on the road, including five straight.

In Salt Lake City, Carlos Boozer had 26 points and 13 rebounds, and Mehmet Okur added 24 points and 10 rebounds to help Utah beat reeling Seattle.

Jeff Green had a career-high 23 points and fellow rookie Kevin Durant also scored 23 points for the Sonics, outscored, 63-40, in the second half. Seattle has lost its last nine road games by an average of more than 20 points.

In Chicago, Mike Dunleavy scored 25 points, Troy Murphy added 24, and Indiana extended its winning streak to a season-best four games with a comeback victory over Chicago.

Danny Granger added 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Pacers, who pulled into a tie with New Jersey for ninth place in the Eastern Conference, trailing Atlanta by one-and-a-half games for the eighth and final playoff spot.

In Charlotte, North Carolina, Gerald Wallace scored 26 points, Jason Richardson 24, and Charlotte held off an early fourth-quarter rally to beat Miami to snap a five-game losing streak.

Jason Williams scored 19 points, Ricky Davis had 15 and Chris Quinn 14 for the injury-riddled Heat, who dressed just nine players in losing their third straight and 11th in 13 games in March.

In Minneapolis, Ryan Gomes scored 26 points, reserve Rashad McCants had 24, and Minnesota beat New York.

Al Jefferson had only eight points, just his third single-digit scoring game of the season for Minnesota.

Reserve Malik Rose had 20 points for the Knicks, who have lost 11-of-12.

In Memphis, Tennessee, Juan Carlos Navarro scored 11 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, and Memphis held on to beat Sacramento.

Rudy Gay scored 24 points and Darko Milicic had 19 points and 10 rebounds for Memphis, which has won consecutive games for only the second time this season. Seven Grizzlies scored in double figures, including all five starters.

Kevin Martin led the Kings with 29 points, and Spencer Hawes had career highs with 19 points and 12 rebounds.

In Los Angeles, Joel Przybilla had a career-high 25 rebounds and 14 points, Brandon Roy scored 23 points, and Portland sent Los Angeles to its seventh straight loss.

LaMarcus Aldridge had 21 points and 10 rebounds, helping the Trail Blazers complete a three-game season sweep. The combined margin of victory in the three games was just 18 points. Los Angeles came into this season having won six of the previous seven meetings, including eight straight at Staples Center.

Corey Maggette scored 21 points for the Clippers, who shot 39 percent from the field while matching their longest losing streak of the season. AP

Federer distressed

INDIAN WELLS, California—Roger Federer lost again, this time in one of the biggest tennis upsets in memory. Mardy Fish, an American ranked 98th, shocked No. 1 Federer in straight sets Saturday, with the lopsided score—6-3, 6-2—making it even more of a stunner.

Wild, wild west

NEW ORLEANS—David West scored 37 points, and the New Orleans Hornets overcame an early 15-point deficit to defeat the Boston Celtics, 113-106, in the National Basketball Association on Saturday.

Five Metro Manila cities welcome newly crowned World Boxing Council (WBC)  super-featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao with a tickertape parade tomorrow to celebrate his recent victory over Mexico’s Juan Manuel Marquez on March 15 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Despite the addition of San Beda star Sam Ekwe on its lineup, winning the Seaba Club championship for the second straight year is not a sure thing for Harbour Centre-Philippine team.

Godfrey Castro lost in a flyweight semifinal in what RP officials perceive as a dubiously scored bout in the second and final Olympic boxing qualifying held Saturday in Astana, Kazakhstan.

THE North All-Stars defeated their Southern counterparts, 13-5, in the All-Star Game Sunday to usher in the Baseball Philippines Series III tournament at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

During my college days I got a summer job as a sportswriter for a tabloid edition of a major daily. Although I never wrote about sports for my school newspaper as I preferred the more mundane things associated with my school life, I leapt at the opportunity.

The first Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Ateneo-De La Salle exhibition game ended in a stalemate as the match was completed with the score tied at 90 Sunday night at the Araneta Coliseum.