Los Angeles - The San Antonio Spurs turned up their trademark defense down the stretch to turn back another opponent.

Tim Duncan had 19 points with nine rebounds, and Argentine Manu Ginobili blocked Dwyane Wade's shot in the final minutes as the Spurs beat the Miami Heat 91-84 on Monday night en route to their eighth win in the last nine games.

"It was a good defensive game both ways," Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said. "The defense was sound and we were able to make a couple of shots down the stretch. That's the way we have to be if we want to do anything at the end of the season."

Los Angeles - Even though it's a new year, old familiar faces Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic and Kobe Bryant of the LA Lakers continue as the top vote-getters in the NBA All-Star balloting for their respective Eastern and Western Conferences.

Howard, the league's top rebounder, remains the overall leader with 1,709,088 votes, while reigning league Most Valuable Player Bryant received 1,534,020, after the results of the third returns were announced on Thursday.

Los Angeles - With three key players out with injuries, Allen Iverson stepped in to rescue the Detroit Pistons.

Iverson scored 17 of his 19 points in the second half, and the short-handed Pistons clipped the visiting New Jersey Nets 83-75 on Wednesday for their fifth straight victory.

Detroit played without All-Star guard Richard Hamilton, out with a groin injury, top reserve Antonio McDyess (sore ribs) and lost starting centre Rasheed Wallace to a sore right foot in the second quarter. However, the resilient Pistons relied on Iverson's offence, and a stifling defence by a makeshift lineup to hold the Nets to a season-low point total on 37 per cent field goal shooting.

Los Angeles - LeBron James celebrated his 24th birthday, but the Miami Heat spoiled the party.

Dwyane Wade had 21 points with 12 assists, Mario Chalmers added 21 points with a career-high six three-pointers and the Heat snapped the Cleveland Cavaliers' six-game winning streak with a 104-95 home-court victory on Tuesday night.

Although James erupted for 38 points, the All-Star forward dropped to 0-3 playing on his birthday.

"I'm sad," he said sarcastically. "I'm going to cry."

Before the game, the birthday boy asked for something simple.

Los Angeles - LeBron James got the best of fellow-superstar Dwyane Wade, and the Cleveland Cavaliers kept their house in perfect order.

James tossed in 33 points - four more than Wade - and the Cavaliers moved to 16-0 at home, with a 93-86 come-from behind victory over the Miami Heat on Sunday night.

"Any good or great team tries to take care of home court first and then tries to play well on the road," said James, whose 27.3 average is second to Wade's league-best 28.9.

Los Angeles - Holiday shoppers stuffing Christmas stockings found time to fill ballot boxes for Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant.

Howard, the Orlando Magic centre, and reigning league MVP Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers top the Eastern Conference and Western Conference, respectively, in the latest NBA All-Star voting results released Thursday.

Howard, pulling down an NBA-best 13.9 rebounds, has collected the most votes overall at 1,421,882. Bryant, who has led the Lakers to a Western Conference-best 23-5 record, accumulated 1,280,912 votes.