NBA ROUNDUP Friday's other games
Suns 99, 76ers 91
PHILADELPHIA -- Stephon Marbury had 28 points and 10 assists and Shawn Marion had 25 points and 15 rebounds as the Phoenix Suns handed the Philadelphia 76ers their fourth straight loss. A 3-pointer by Marion put the Suns ahead 95-87 with 2:43 left. After Iverson sank two free throws, Amare Stoudemire's dunk made it 97-89 with 1:45 remaining. A layup by Penny Hardaway sealed the win. Hardaway had 15 points and Joe Johnson added 12 for the Suns. Allen Iverson scored 22 points and rookie John Salmons, making his first career start, had six points, six rebounds and four assists.
Pacers 94, Nuggets 72
INDIANAPOLIS -- Ron Mercer scored 19 points and Austin Croshere added 17 as the Indiana Pacers avenged their most embarrassing loss of the season with a win over the Denver Nuggets. The Pacers lost to Denver 92-81 on Saturday on the final game of a five-game West Coast road trip. It was Indiana's only loss this season to a team with a losing record, and coach Isiah Thomas said the Pacers were tired and looking forward to going home. Back at Conseco Fieldhouse for the first time since Nov. 29, the Pacers appeared refreshed -- and a little testy -- while jumping out to a 28-point lead in the first half.
SuperSonics 91, Raptors 79
TORONTO -- Gary Payton scored 21 points as the Seattle SuperSonics beat the injury-riddled Toronto Raptors for their second straight road victory. Vladimir Radmanovic added 15 points and Desmond Mason had 14 for the SuperSonics, who won consecutive games for the first time since Nov. 17. The Raptors, who have lost three straight and five of six, were missing their three best players -- injured All-Star Vince Carter, leading rebounder Antonio Davis and point guard Alvin Williams. Lindsey Hunter had a team-high 21 for the Raptors, who are also missing Lamond Murray, Eric Montross and Mamadou N'diaye. Toronto has used 11 starting lineups in 22 games this season.
Magic 111, Warriors 85
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Tracy McGrady had 36 points and Grant Hill returned from a one-game absence with 16 points as the Orlando Magic avenged the most lopsided loss in franchise history by defeating Golden State. McGrady hit 13 of 25 shots before leaving for good with 8:06 left. Grant Hill, who rested his surgically-repaired ankle during Tuesday's 20-point loss at Chicago, played 27 minutes. Reserve Pat Burke scored a season-high 13, Pat Garrity scored 12 points and Darrell Armstrong 11 for Orlando, which lost 135-92 to Golden State on Nov. 16. Antawn Jamison led Golden State with 25 points on 12-of-16 shooting. Golden State's other four starters scored 16 points. Reserves Chris Mills and Danny Fortson were the only Warriors to reach double figures with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Bucks 101, Trail Blazers 79
MILWAUKEE -- Tim Thomas scored a season-high 25 points before spraining his left ankle and Sam Cassell added 19 as the Milwaukee Bucks had a strong second half to beat Portland. Anthony Mason added a season-high 16 points with seven rebounds and nine assists, and Ray Allen had 15 points. Rookie Dan Gadzuric had seven points and a season-high 11 rebounds. Portland pulled to 48-47 early in the second half, only to have the Bucks score the next 11 points en route to an 80-60 lead.
Nets 79, Wizards 65
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Jason Kidd had 11 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds and New Jersey held Michael Jordan and the Washington Wizards to a franchise low point total. The total was one less than the Wizards had last year in a loss to the Chicago Bulls, and Jordan and Jerry Stackhouse both contributed big-time, combining to shoot 10-for-38 from the field. The point total was also a Nets record for fewest allowed. The old record was 67 against Washington last season.
Knicks 97, Heat 92
MIAMI -- Latrell Sprewell scored a season-high 30 points and the New York Knicks shot an astounding 92 percent in the second quarter. Sprewell shot 10-of-20 from the field and 9-of-11 from the line. Charlie Ward added 14 points and Allan Houston 13.
Grizzlies 114, Rockets 109, OT
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Wesley Person made a 3-pointer with 35 seconds left in overtime and followed with two foul shots as the Grizzlies won their fourth straight game, one short of the franchise record. Jason Williams broke inside for a layup with 7.4 seconds left in regulation as the Grizzlies took a 105-102 lead. But Steve Francis came back with a 3-pointer from the top of the key to tie the score with 2.3 seconds left. Pau Gasol led Memphis with 29 points and 12 rebounds while Williams had 25 points and 12 assists. Francis led Houston with 29 points and nine assists.
Spurs 97, Clippers 84
SAN ANTONIO -- Tim Duncan had 25 points and 18 rebounds to lead four players in double figures. Tony Parker added 22 while Stephen Jackson and Steve Smith scored 10 apiece. Los Angeles was led by Michael Olowokandi's 20 points, while Quentin Richardson added 19 and Elton Brand 16. San Antonio had a 26-2 run bridging the second and third quarters and led 68-48 on a three-point play by David Robinson with 7:57 to play in the period. Los Angeles cut its deficit to 84-75 on Brand's free throw with 8:27 remaining in the game, but San Antonio answered with a 6-0 run.
-- Associated Press
43
