Teams use a little extra time to make amazing happen

The Spurs and Rockets played heated matches Saturday as each team took its opponent into a grueling double overtime. In the end, the youth of the Grizzlies and Jazz could not stand up to the poise and experience of the Spurs and Rockets. The Spurs defeated the Grizzlies 106-103 and the Rockets dropped the Jazz 120-115.

Even New Jersey tried to squeeze into the overtime fest with a 114-103 OT win over the Bobcats earlier in the night.

Ron Artest picked up extra duties in the paint while Yao Ming showed signs of fatigue. Yao played 46 minutes. Artest scored 10 of his 28 points in the second overtime, with a bad ankle injury, and the Houston Rockets recovered from blowing a 16-point lead in the second half to beat the Jazz.

On the other side of Texas, Tony Parker scored 32 points, hitting two of San Antonio's three baskets in the second overtime, and Michael Finley blocked Memphis' last shot to grab the victory for the Spurs.

Saturday's long matches were exciting but tested the will of every fan at home who tried to stay awake. But in a weird turn of events, it seems time was kind to the older teams in this double double-OT night.

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Washington 104, Oklahoma City 95
Atlanta 129, Chicago 117
New Jersey 114, Charlotte 103, OT
Orlando 118, Minnesota 94
Detroit 87, Milwaukee 76
Houston 120, Utah 115, 2OT
San Antonio 106, Memphis 103, 2OT
Portland 101, Toronto 89

• Joe Johnson, Hawks, scored a season-high 41 points, one off his career high, in Atlanta's 129-117 over Chicago on Saturday night.

• Tony Parker, Spurs, scored 32 points, hitting two of San Antonio's three baskets in the second overtime of a 106-103 victory over Memphis.

• Ron Artest, Rockets, scored 10 of his 28 points in the second overtime to lead Houston over Utah, 120-115.

• Brandon Roy, Trail Blazers, had 32 points and nine assists as Portland beat Toronto 102-89.

• Antawn Jamison, Wizards, tied his season best with 29 points to help Washington beat Oklahoma City 104-95.

Ben Gordon scored 33 points in Chicago's 129-117 loss in Atlanta and was 6-of-8 behind the arc to pass Scottie Pippen and become the Bulls' career leader in 3-pointers. Pippen made 664 3-pointers in 856 games with the Bulls. Gordon, playing in his 346th game for Chicago, passed Pippen in the first quarter and now has 669 3s.

Washington beat Oklahoma City 104-95 on Saturday in a matchup of teams with the two worst records in the NBA, snapping an eight-game losing streak. The Thunder entered with an NBA-worst 3-27 record, with the Wizards at 4-23. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, there had never been an NBA game matching teams with lower winning percentages -- .100 for Oklahoma City and .148 for Washington -- and each squad having played at least 25 games.

The Orlando Magic beat Minnesota 118-94 for their seventh straight victory and 11th in 12 games -- all against the Western Conference.

Tracy McGrady, Houston's second-leading scorer, sat out for the eighth time this season Saturday against Utah with left knee soreness, the effects of offseason surgery. ... Richard Hamilton missed Detroit's victory over the Milwaukee Bucks because of a groin injury. He had started the Pistons' first 27 games.

Yao Ming has 17 double-doubles this season.

"It's kind of an 'us against the world' mentality. Coming into somebody else's building and wanting to get some roadkill ... it's good for us. Winning games like this, I don't care who the team is, will help."
-- Vince Carter, after New Jersey beat Charlotte 114-103 in overtime. The Nets improved to 10-4 on the road; they are just 5-11 at home.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.