Miller’s 25 points lead Wizards

ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — Mike Miller scored a season-high 25 points — including seven 3-pointers — and Antawn Jamison had 21 points and a career-high 23 rebounds to lead the Washington Wizards to a 106-96 win over the New York Knicks on Saturday.

Miller, who missed 26 games due to injuries this season, had four 3-pointers late in the third quarter and early in the fourth as the Wizards took an 85-73 lead with 10:45 to play in the fourth quarter.

On Friday, Washington had a one-point win over the New Jersey Nets despite all five of its starters failing to score in double figures for the first time since Dec. 27, 2001.

Miller, who was acquired in a trade with Minnesota in June, missed 19 games with a strained right calf, was one 3-pointer away from the franchise high.

The Wizards equaled their season high with 11 3-pointers.

Washington raced to a 36-19 first quarter lead — its largest margin after one quarter this season, grabbing 18 rebounds.

For the game, the Wizards had a season-high 59 rebounds. They were outscored 25-14 in the second quarter when they missed 18 of their 24 shots.

Danilo Gallinari and Jared Jeffries hit 3-pointers to tie the game at 50 to start the second half. A 12-1 Washington run gave the Wizards a 64-53 lead, and then Miller went to work and Washington ended its four-game losing streak at home.

It’s been a roller-coaster week for the Knicks, who’ve lost four of their last five.

Last Sunday, they suffered their worst home loss in history, a 50-point embarrassment to Dallas.

They followed it with a 27-point win over Minnesota and a two-point loss to Toronto.

David Lee, who found out this week he didn’t make the All-Star team, led the Knicks with 24 points.

He scored the last 12 points for the Knicks in the third quarter, but failed to record a double-double for the first time in his past eight games. Jeffries had 17.

Knicks F Al Harrington, the team’s second-leading scorer, did not play due to a sore right knee. New York G Larry Hughes, a former teammate of the suspended Gilbert Arenas, thinks that Arenas will again play in Washington. “When things go bad, you always get mad at the authority, but I think it will blow over. I think he’ll be back here.”

Magic 104, Hawks 86

ORLANDO, Fla. — Dwight Howard had 31 points and 19 rebounds and the Orlando Magic coasted to victory.

The Magic took over first place in the Southeast Division with the victory and beat the Hawks for the third straight time this season. Rashard Lewis added 17 points, Ryan Anderson had 16 and J.J. Redick had eight points and a career-high seven assists as the Magic reserves had 32 points and 11 assists.

Joe Johnson and Jamal Crawford had 19 points apiece for the Hawks, who shot only 39.5 percent in the game. Al Horford, selected to back up Howard in the All-Star Game, had only four points and four rebounds against Howard.

Bucks 95, Heat 84

MILWAUKEE — Hakim Warrick scored 10 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter and the Milwaukee Bucks held off the short-handed Miami Heat.

Andrew Bogut and Brandon Jennings each had 17 points for Milwaukee.

Dwyane Wade led the Heat with 21 points, but was in foul trouble most of the game. Quentin Richardson had 16 points and Jermaine O’Neal had 15 points and 10 rebounds.

The Heat were without forward Michael Beasley, their second-leading scorer, and guard Mario Chalmers. Beasley missed his second consecutive game with a hyperextended right knee. Chalmers sprained his left thumb when he got it caught in a jersey Friday night against the Detroit Pistons.

Hornets 109, Grizzlies 102, OT

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Emeka Okafor had 21 points, Darren Collison added 17 points and a career-high 18 assists and the New Orleans Hornets defeated Memphis in overtime, snapping the Grizzlies’ 11-game home winning streak.

New Orleans overcame a 21-point deficit in the third quarter to win its third game out of the past four. Four of the Hornets past 10 games have gone to overtime, and New Orleans had lost the previous three before Saturday’s victory.

Collison’s steal and dunk with 24 seconds left put the game out of reach.

David West led New Orleans with 22 points, while Peja Stojakovic had 20 points.

Marcus Thornton finished with 14 for the Hornets, who moved ahead of Memphis for the Western Conference’s eighth playoff spot.