AROUND THE NBA | Tuesday's games

Spurs 104, SuperSonics 95
SAN ANTONIO -- Tony Parker had 27 points and nine assists, and the San Antonio Spurs increased their lead in the Western Conference to one game. San Antonio (60-18) recorded a 60-win season for the third time in franchise history, the last coming when the Spurs won the NBA title in the 2002-03 season. The Spurs lead Dallas by a game for the best record and the top seed in the West. Both teams have four regular-season games remaining -- with all the Spurs' games against teams with losing records. Parker, who was 7-of-8 from the field in the second quarter, helped the Spurs overcome a tough shooting night by Tim Duncan. Duncan shot 6-for-18 and had 18 points and 14 rebounds. Seattle (33-44) had won a season-best four straight games and six of the past eight. Ray Allen averaged 31 points and shot 55.4 percent during the winning streak, but was limited to 14 points and shot 5-of-13 from the floor. Luke Ridnour and Rashard Lewis each scored 15.
Heat 106, Raptors 97
MIAMI -- Shaquille O'Neal had his second career triple-double, Antoine Walker scored a season-high 32 points, and the Miami Heat overcame Dwyane Wade's absence to send the Raptors to their ninth straight loss. O'Neal finished with 15 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, doing so in only 28 minutes because of foul trouble. And Walker, who was shooting only 30 percent and averaging eight points per game in April -- as the Heat got off to a 2-4 start -- connected on 13 of 26 shots, plus added eight rebounds and five assists. Toronto was within three points late in the third quarter before the Heat pulled away, with Walker's 3-pointer with 5:16 remaining -- followed by a kiss of his hands, which he raised skyward -- giving Miami a 101-86 lead. The Raptors didn't get closer than 10 again until the final seconds, with the outcome decided. While the Raptors remained horrid, Mike James stayed torrid for the Raptors. He scored 32 points, his fourth straight game cracking the 30-point mark, and Morris Peterson added 23 for Toronto -- which stayed close by hitting 13 3-pointers.
Grizzlies 92, Timberwolves 76
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Pau Gasol had 19 points and 10 rebounds, Chucky Atkins added 17 points, and the Memphis Grizzlies beat injury-depleted Minnesota. Memphis won for the fourth time in five games and moved a half-game ahead of the idle Los Angeles Clippers for the fifth playoff spot in the Western Conference. Bobby Jackson finished with 16 points for the Grizzlies, Jake Tsakalidis contributed 12, and Mike Miller scored 10. Gasol added six assists. Minnesota was without leading scorer and rebounder Kevin Garnett; Ricky Davis, second-leading scorer and team leader in assists, and a supporting cast of Anthony Carter and Troy Hudson. That's an average of 54 points and almost 20 rebounds that didn't make the trip to Memphis. Justin Reed led the Timberwolves with 14 points on 7-of-11 from the field. Rashad McCants scored 11 points and Marcus Banks added 10. The Timberwolves have lost four of five overall and 14 straight on the road. Minnesota has not won away from home since Feb. 6. The absences gave Minnesota adequate reasons to continue giving younger players extra minutes. Memphis had a double-digit lead in the first quarter, and Minnesota never threatened the rest of the way. Memphis built its 18-point first-half lead as Atkins hit his first four shots, all from outside the arc. The Grizzlies connected on seven of their first 11 from long range. Memphis carried a 44-29 lead into halftime as Atkins scored 14 and Gasol added 12 points. Banks had all 10 points for the Timberwolves in the first half.
Associated Press
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