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New Jersey rout Phoenix

The Indiana Pacers' Jermaine O'Neal, left, blocks the shot of the Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade during the fourth quarter of their NBA game on Monday in Miami. The Heat won 96-91. PHOTO: AP

Nenad Krstic had 21 points and 10 rebounds, and the New Jersey Nets won their ninth straight game, holding the Phoenix Suns to their lowest point total of the season in a 110-72 rout on Monday night.

Vince Carter added 20 points for the Nets (41-28), who trimmed their magic number to clinch the Atlantic Division to five and the number to clinch an Eastern Conference playoff berth to two.

The 38-point margin of victory was the biggest of the season for the Nets, who won a season-high 10 straight from Dec. 16 through Jan. 8.

The margin of defeat was the largest of the season for the Suns (47-22). They entered averaging an NBA-high 108.4 points and hadn't been held below 85 this season. They shot a franchise-worst 26.8 percent (26-of-97).

Steve Nash, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, was held scoreless for the first time all season. He played 26 minutes. Amare Stoudemire, in just his third game since returning after missing the first 66 after surgery on his left knee, failed to score and grabbed just two rebounds.

Heat 96, Pacers 91

At Miami, Florida, Shaquille O'Neal had 23 points and 11 rebounds, Dwyane Wade survived a tough offensive night to score 22, and Miami rallied from a 14-point second-half deficit to beat Indiana.

The Heat beat the Pacers for only the second time in the teams' last 16 regular-season meetings, doing so even after getting hit with five technical fouls and losing starting forward Udonis Haslem to an ejection in the second quarter after scuffling with Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal.

Jason Williams added 18 points for Miami, which outrebounded Indiana 53-32 and moved closer to wrapping up its second straight Southeast Division title.

Antoine Walker had 11 for Miami.

Stephen Jackson scored 22 points for Indiana, which got 19 more from Peja Stojakovic and 17 from Jermaine O'Neal, who fouled out in the final minute. Jamaal Tinsley scored 10 for the Pacers.

Jazz 104, Hornets 80

At Salt Lake City, Utah, Deron Williams had 20 points and five assists, and Utah (33-37) passed the slumping Hornets (32-37) in the Western Conference standings.

Matt Harpring had 15 points and 11 rebounds for Utah, which shot 56 percent (37-for-66) from the floor and outrebounded the Hornets 45-23.

Carlos Boozer had 21 points and eight rebounds and Andrei Kirilenko finished with 13 points, eight assists, five blocks and six rebounds.

The Hornets lost for the 12th time in 13 games and fell to 0-3 on a road trip that wraps up today at Golden State.

Wizards 116, Warriors 98

At Oakland, California, Gilbert Arenas scored 40 points and Antawn Jamison added 31 as the former Warriors beat their old team, leading Washington over Golden State.

Arenas hit seven 3-pointers and had 10 assists, while Jamison added 14 rebounds in a sensational two-man show for the Wizards, who have won two of the first three games on their longest road trip of the season.

Jason Richardson scored 18 points for the Warriors, who were mostly lifeless until the fourth quarter.

One night earlier, they snapped the Sacramento Kings' 14-game home winning streak -- and Washington was to visits Arco Arena yesterday for the next stop on their six-game trip.
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