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Associated Press

Posted on: Saturday, January 16, 2010

76ers' Dalembert scores with an assist

 • Arenas pleads guilty

PHILADELPHIA — Sam Dalembert learned yesterday that an uncle, a carpenter feared dead in his home country Haiti, was alive. His godfather finally contacted Dalembert's relatives.

Dalembert felt some personal peace that family members were alive. But hearing the first-hand accounts of the extreme death and destruction in earthquake-ravaged Port-au-Prince has left the NBA's only Haitian wanting to help his countrymen so much more.

"I feel much better, but still my heart is for those who lost their loved ones," he said.

The Philadelphia 76ers center finds 48 minutes of distraction each night on the court. Dalembert made a $100,000 donation to help relief efforts, then had 17 points and 12 rebounds to lift the Sixers to a 98-86 win over the Sacramento Kings last night.

"I'm trying to do my best and contribute," Dalembert said of the relief effort. "The Philadelphia people responded. Everybody everywhere responded. That's a really good feeling. We're a nation of good hearts."

Dalembert taped a public service announcement for UNICEF encouraging fans to support the relief efforts in his home country. His donation went to UNICEF.

"I know, at a time like this, times are tough in our own home. But you find a good heart to help us out," he told the crowd before the game. "Everything is accepted. Don't feel like anything is too small to help out."

The Philly fans responded. The Sixers said after the game they raised more than $30,000 at the UNICEF table on the concourse during last night's game.

LAKERS 126, CLIPPERS 86

Kobe Bryant scored 30 points and Pau Gasol returned from a six-game injury absence with 20 points and six rebounds as the Lakers routed the Clippers. It was the Lakers' largest margin of victory over the Clippers since the Staples Center's junior tenants moved to Los Angeles in 1984.

HEAT 115, ROCKETS 106

Dwyane Wade scored 37 points, his second consecutive big game since spraining his wrist in Monday's loss to Utah, helping visiting Miami snap Houston's eight-game home winning streak.

PISTONS 110, HORNETS 104

Richard Hamilton scored 32 points and Rodney Stuckey had eight of his 13 points in overtime as host Detroit beat New Orleans for its second straight victory after losing 13 in a row.

RAPTORS 112, KNICKS 104

Andrea Bargnani had 24 points and 12 rebounds, and visiting Toronto saw its 67-43 halftime lead dwindle to eight early in the fourth quarter before holding off New York.

PACERS 121, NETS 105

Danny Granger scored 22 of his 28 points in a 72-point first-half blitz and visiting Indiana hit 13 3-pointers in winning its third straight, while handing New Jersey its seventh straight loss.

GRIZZLIES 135, TIMBERWOLVES 110

Rudy Gay scored 21 points, Zach Randolph and O.J. Mayo added 20 apiece and host Memphis cruised past Minnesota for its seventh straight home victory.

MAVERICKS 99, THUNDER 98

Dirk Nowitzki scored 32 points and Jason Terry added 21 as Dallas ended a two-game losing streak by beating Oklahoma City for the ninth straight time in Dallas dating to 2004.

BULLS 121, WIZARDS 119

Derrick Rose scored 37 points and hit the go-ahead basket with 5.4 seconds left in the second overtime as host Chicago beat Washington when Randy Foye missed a shot from the baseline.

HAWKS 102, SUNS 101

Jamal Crawford hit a long 3-pointer at the buzzer to cap a 6-0 run in the final seconds, lifting host Atlanta over Phoenix, which led 100-96 with 10 seconds left after two free throws by Steve Nash.

BOBCATS 92, SPURS 76

Boris Diaw had 26 points and 11 rebounds, Gerald Wallace added 21 points and Charlotte held San Antonio to 34 second-half points to win its sixth straight at home.

TRAIL BLAZERS 102, MAGIC 87

Martell Webster had 24 points and nine rebounds, and LaMarcus Aldridge added 14 points and 14 rebounds to lead host Portland, which played without Brandon Roy (sore hamstring).

BUCKS 113, WARRIORS 104

Brandon Jennings scored 25 points and Luke Ridnour made five consecutive free throws in the final 13 seconds as visiting Milwaukee beat Golden State, which had just eight players in uniform.