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PHOENIX (AP) -The Phoenix Suns improved their playoff chances with another hard-fought victory.
And it doesn't get any easier from here.
Grant Hill hit a 12-foot jumper in the lane to break a tie with 58.6 seconds remaining, then added a free throw with 6.2 seconds left to help Phoenix extend its season-high winning streak to five games with a 118-115 victory over Denver on Monday night.
"We can always play like that when we are focused and playing the right way," Shaquille O'Neal said.
The Suns (39-31) closed to within three games of idle Dallas for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff berth. They have gained three games on the Mavericks in 11 days and have one more game against Dallas on April 5. Phoenix plays Utah twice and Portland in the next three games over four days, beginning Wednesday.
"It's going to be tougher," O'Neal said. "We have to rely on the teams ahead of us to falter. We have to keep fighting and see what happens."
With Jared Dudley leading the way, the Suns' reserves had 36 points and 15 rebounds.
Denver's Chauncey Billups, fouled by Hill with 5.4 seconds remaining to prevent the Nuggets' from attempting a tying 3-pointer, made two free throws to cut the Suns' lead to 116-115.
The Nuggets fouled Steve Nash on the inbound play, and he made both foul shots with 3.9 seconds left.
Carmelo Anthony, who led the Nuggets with 29 points, missed a 3-pointer from the left wing in the final second. Billups had 20 points.
It's a tough one to lose, but we don't want to put too much pressure on ourselves," Anthony said. "We thought we should have had this one."
O'Neal, who played only 24 minutes because of foul trouble, had six of his 19 points in the final 5:04, when he made four of five free throws. He also blocked Kenyon Martin's 8-footer from the lane with 1:10 remaining.
Martin had 18 points for Denver (45-26), which remained tied for the best start in franchise history.
Hawks 109, Timberwolves 97
At Atlanta, Flip Murray scored a season-best 30 points, and Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson each added 20 as the Hawks won their season-high eighth straight home game.
It was Atlanta's eighth win in nine games and the Hawks are 28-7 at Philips Arena. It was the fifth straight loss for the Timberwolves.
The home streak is the longest for Atlanta since Nov. 12, 1996-Feb. 12, 1997, when the Hawks won 20 in row.
Randy Foye led Minnesota with 19 points.
Celtics 90, Clippers 77
At Boston, Ray Allen scored 20 points and the Celtics, sparked by an alley-oop dunk from Kevin Garnett, pulled away against the Clippers.
Rajon Rondo added 14 points and seven assists for Boston (54-18).
Garnett played 18 minutes, hitting all five of his shots while scoring 12 points. He added two rebounds and two assists in his third game back since missing 13 with a sprained right knee.
Zach Randolph led the Clippers with 17 points and 14 rebounds.
Magic 106, Knicks 102
At New York, Dwight Howard had 29 points and 14 rebounds, Hedo Turkoglu led a big fourth-quarter rally, and the Magic tuned up for a showdown with Boston.
Turkoglu scored 12 of his 16 points in the final period for the Magic, who lowered their magic number to one to clinch their second straight Southeast Division title. That could come Wednesday, when they host the Celtics in a game where second place in the Eastern Conference will be at stake.
Nate Robinson scored 19 for New York, which dropped its fifth straight.
Heat 94, Grizzlies 82
At Miami, Dwyane Wade scored 27 points to top his own team single-season record, and added eight assists for the Heat.
Wade now has 2,064 points this season, 24 more than his previous best, set in the 2005-06 championship season.
O.J. Mayo scored 21 for the Grizzlies, who started a four-game road trip by losing for the 17th time in 19 games.
Bulls 101, Wizards 99
At Washington, Ben Gordon scored seven of his 21 points in the final 3 1/2 minutes, and the Bulls nearly stumbled again in their mediocre march toward the playoffs.
The Bulls had an 11-point lead whittled to one over the final 6 minutes. Washington's Nick Young made it 100-99 with a 3-pointer with 3.6 seconds play, but Gordon made one of two free throws with 2.6 seconds remaining. After Gordon missed the second attempt, Antawn Jamison missed a desperation 40-foot shot at the buzzer.
Jamison finished with 34 points and 12 rebounds for the Wizards, who have lost five straight.
76ers 104, Trail Blazers 103, OT
At Portland, Ore., Andre Miller had 27 points and 10 rebounds, Thaddeus Young and Andre Iguodala scored 25 points each, and the 76ers rallied in overtime.
The Sixers scored eight consecutive points in overtime, including a rebound basket by Miller with 1:55 left that gave Philadelphia a 104-103 lead.
LaMarcus Aldridge had 24 points and 12 rebounds for the Blazers. |
