A change on the bench gave the Denver Nuggets a boost and ended six weeks of frustration for the struggling franchise. Danilo Gallinari scored a season-high 26 points, Kenneth Faried had 14 points and 14 rebounds and Denver beat the Milwaukee Bucks 106-95 on Tuesday night, hours after Brian Shaw was fired as coach. Guard Ty Lawson had 16 points and 10 assists for Denver, which ended a six-game losing streak and won at home for the first time since Jan. 14. Khris Middleton led Milwaukee with 20 points.

Gordon Hayward started the second half hot, and the rest of his Jazz teammates followed his lead. Utah shot 64 percent after the break and clamped down to defeat the Memphis Grizzlies 93-82 on Tuesday night. Hayward and Derrick Favors led Utah with 21 points each, while Rudy Gobert scored 15 and grabbed a career-best 24 rebounds.

Without their starting backcourt and one of their best reserves, the Chicago Bulls were going to need a team effort Tuesday night. Nikola Mirotic scored 23 points to lead the Bulls to a 97-92 win over the Washington Wizards. It came without former MVP Derrick Rose (right knee), all-star Jimmy Butler (left elbow), and trusted reserve Taj Gibson (left ankle), but the Bulls still managed to improve to 4-2 on their season-high seven-game homestand. Aaron Brooks had 22 points while Pau Gasol had 20 and 10 rebounds for the Bulls, who had five players in double figures.

All-Star DeMarcus Cousins was welcomed back to the lineup by coach George Karl and the rest of the Kings. The Knicks were not as excited. Cousins, the Kings' first All-Star since 2004, scored 22 points, including 11-for-11 from the foul line, and pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds as Sacramento handed New York its worst loss of the season, 124-86, on Tuesday night. He had missed the last two games, both Kings' losses, because of a left ankle sprain and left hip bruise.

Al Horford knew the Atlanta Hawks would eventually respond to Houston's big lead. ''It's a credit to our guys,'' Horford said. James Harden, the league's leading scorer, was serving a one-game suspension and did not play for Houston, but the Rockets led for the most of the game until Teague's 3-pointer with 4:24 remaining put Atlanta up 91-90.

LeBron James doesn't usually spend a lot of time talking about personal accomplishments, but he made an exception Tuesday night. James scored 27 points to move into 21st place on the NBA's career list, and the Cleveland Cavaliers cruised to a 110-79 victory over the Boston Celtics. James, who has 24,508 career points, moved past former Miami Heat teammate Ray Allen with a layup in the third quarter. ''He's one of my best friends,'' James said.

Al Jefferson was thrilled when the Charlotte Hornets traded for Mo Williams - and not only because they're best friends. Jefferson said Williams' outside shooting and passing ability has helped make his job a little easier in the low post. ''That's one of the things I love about him being here,'' Jefferson said of Williams, who he got to know growing up in Mississippi. When you have a chance to kick it out to a knockdown shooter, it takes the pressure off me.'' Jefferson had 21 points and 16 rebounds, Williams added 20 points and 13 assists, and the Hornets beat the Los Angeles Lakers 104-103 on Tuesday night for their third win in four games.

Kevin Durant will be out at least another week for the Oklahoma City Thunder, but Russell Westbrook could return Wednesday against the Philadelphia 76ers. Thunder coach Scott Brooks made the announcements Tuesday at practice. Westbrook, the All-Star MVP, was hurt in the final seconds of the Thunder's 115-112 loss Friday night in Portland when the knee of teammate Andre Roberson hit Westbrook's face. Westbrook had surgery on Saturday.