Radmanovic makes immediate impact, Bobcats crush Clippers
Los Angeles (dpa) - It didn't take long for sharpshooter Vladimir Radmanovic to make an immediate impact with his new club.
Radmanovic scored nine of his 13 points on three timely three-pointers in the decisive final quarter, and the injury-ravaged Charlotte Bobcats snapped a five-game losing streak on Monday night, with 94-73 victory over the road-weary LA Clippers.
"It was definitely nice to be out there and help my team win," said Radmanovic, who hit half his 10 shots in 29 minutes, after being acquired from the LA Lakers on Saturday for reserves Shannon Brown and Adam Morrison. "Luckily, I got back into rhythm in the second half."
Emeka Okafor had 19 points with 16 rebounds for Charlotte (20-31) which is without Gerald Wallace (punctured lung, rib), Raja Bell (groin) and Juwan Howard (inflamed right toe).
DJ Augustin scored 17, while Raymond Felton and Frenchman Boris Diaw added 15 points apiece.
"I really think Vladimir is going to help this team a lot," Diaw said. "He really knows the game and is a great shooter."
Though the 6-foot-10 Radmanovic had his smooth stroke working, he was in need of better conditioning.
"I lost my wind," Radmanovic admitted. "That means your legs don't cooperate with you the way you want them to."
Bobcats coach Larry Brown was impressed with Radmanovic's debut, especially without the benefit of a practice session.
"It was so funny, trying to talk him through stuff," Brown said. "We invented plays."
With Radmaovic drilling a pair of threes, the Bobcats began the fourth quarter on a 16-4 run, that turned a four-point lead into an 83-65 cushion with six minutes left.
He hit another from behind the arc as the gap widened to 88-70 with four minutes remaining en route to the lopsided victory.
Zach Randolph had 20 points with 10 rebounds for the bottom-feeding Clippers (12-40) who were outscored 27-12 in the final frame and finished 2-5 on their seven-game road trip.
Elsewhere:
Philadelphia 76ers 108, Phoenix Suns 91 Thaddeus Young scored 25 points, rookie Marreese Speights had a career-high 24 and Andre Iguodala added 22 as the host Sixers (26-24) routed the Suns for their third straight win.
Amare Stoudemire led Phoenix (28-22) with 19 points. However, Shaquille O'Neal struggled to score just seven, and two-time league MVP Steve Nash finished with two points, on 1-of-8 shooting.
Milwaukee Bucks 124, Houston Rockets 112 Ramon Sessions scored 26 points, Charlie Villanueva and Richard Jefferson had 25 apiece as the undermanned Bucks shut down Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady to snap a nine-game losing streak against the visiting Rockets.
Yao had just seven points on 2-of-8 shooting in 19 foul-plagued minutes, while fellow All-Star McGrady finished with three points on 1-of-9 shooting - well below their combined 36-point average.
Charlie Bell chipped in with 21 for Milwaukee (25-29) which without injured starters Michael Redd (knee), Luke Ridnour (thumb) and Australian Andrew Bogut (back) beat Houston for the first time since December 28, 2004.
Aaron Brooks led Houston (31-21) with a career-high 23 points, while Argentine Luis Scola and Ron Artest added 20.
Memphis Grizzlies 85, New Orleans Hornets 80 OJ Mayo had 22 points with a career-high 16 rebounds, Hakim Warrick accumulated 15 points and a season-best 14 boards and the Grizzlies (15-36) ended a seven-game losing streak to the short-handed Hornets.
Serbian sharpshooter Peja Stojakovic scored 23 points to pace New Orleans (30-19) which played without starters Chris Paul (groin strain), Tyson Chandler (left ankle sprain) and David West (league suspension). (dpa)