Sport Leak

Adrian Aucoin beat Andrew Raycroft in a shootout with a little help from Phoenix backup goalie Jason LaBarbera. Aucoin scored in the sixth round of a shootout, and Ilya Bryzgalov deflected Mason Raymond’s final attempt for Vancouver high over the net to give the Coyotes a 4-3 victory over the Canucks on Wednesday night.

Tyreke Evans recorded his first career triple-double with 19 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, leading the Sacramento Kings to a 113-90 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night. With frequent chants of “ROY!” (Rookie of the Year), Evans responded with a strong overall game that has typified his season.

Soaring through the air for a jaw-dropping, 360-dunk off an alley-oop pass, J.R. Smith showed everyone what teammate Chauncey Billups already knew — the Denver Nuggets are so much more than a two-man team. Even though they held Billups and Carmelo Anthony in check for much of the game, the Minnesota Timberwolves were still powerless against a deeper and far more talented opponent.

Patrick Sharp scored his second goal of the game 2:08 into overtime to give the Chicago Blackhawks a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday night. Dave Bolland picked off an errant pass by the Kings’ Brad Richardson at center ice and made a long pass to Sharp, who skated in and beat goalie Jonathan Quick.

Jason Kidd had 20 points and nine assists, Caron Butler added 16 points, and the Dallas Mavericks recovered from a lethargic start to match the NBA’s longest winning streak this season with their 13th straight victory, 96-87 over the New Jersey Nets on Wednesday night. Rookie Roddy Beaubois’ 16 points and Shawn Marion’s 14 points and 13 rebounds helped the Mavericks equal…

On Monday night, Tomas Fleischmann was a healthy scratch for the first time all season. On Wednesday night, he scored in overtime for the Washington Capitals. Proving a point, Tomas? “It’s a little message,” he said. “Don’t sit me out again.” Fleischmann was smiling when he said it, but it points to the tough lineup-juggling act coach Bruce Boudreau has to perform now that…

Manu Ginobili scored 28 points in the San Antonio Spurs’ 97-87 victory Wednesday night over the New York Knicks, who clinched a franchise-record ninth consecutive losing season. Ginobili kept carrying the Spurs after scoring 38 in a loss Monday at Cleveland, thriving again in his second start since Tony Parker’s broken right hand thrust Ginobili off the bench.

Rudy Gay scored 28 points to lead Memphis to a 111-91 victory over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night and give the Grizzlies a franchise-record seventh straight road win. It was the Grizzlies’ first victory over Boston in seven tries since 2006. O.J. Mayo scored 17 points and Zach Randolph had 13 points and 10 rebounds for Memphis.

Chauncey Billups scored 25 points and got a huge lift from role players Chris Andersen, Nene and J.R. Smith in the Denver Nuggets’ 110-102 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night. Andersen had 14 points and 10 rebounds, Nene had 17 points and nine boards and Smith scored 15 to shake the Nuggets out a first-half funk and deliver their fourth straight win.

Kevin Durant scored 29 points, Russell Westbrook added 17 points and came up just shy of a triple-double, and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the injury-depleted New Orleans Hornets 98-83 on Wednesday night. The Hornets got off to a hot start in their latest return to the building they called home for two seasons following Hurricane Katrina, but it was short-lived with Peja Stojakovic joining…