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Sixers pull off best win of grim season

Phoenix Suns head coach Mike D'Antoni reacts to a call during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. PHOTO: AFP

Andre Iguodala scored 24 points, Willie Green had 20 and the Philadelphia 76ers never trailed on Wednesday night in a 99-94 win over the Phoenix Suns, who lost on the road to an Eastern Conference team for the first time.

The Suns won their first 14 on the road against East teams and failed in their bid to become the first team to sweep its road games against the opposite conference. It was also the first time the Suns failed to even hold a lead.

With the Suns playing without Shawn Marion and Boris Diaw, the Sixers were able to pull off their most impressive win of what's mostly been a miserable season.

Amare Stoudemire had 31 points and 14 rebounds, and Steve Nash scored 23 points. Marion sat out his first game of the season because of a bruised right hand and bruised left quadriceps suffered against Indiana on Tuesday night. Diaw had back spasms.

Heat 92, Wizards 83

At Washington, Shaquille O'Neal took over in the fourth quarter, assuming command of the paint by scoring 10 of his season-high 23 points to lead Miami.

Amare Stoudemire, center, of the Phoenix Suns shoots against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Sixers defeated the Suns 99-94. PHOTO: AFP

In a game without Dwyane Wade, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison -- and with Gilbert Arenas having another poor shooting night -- O'Neal became the unstoppable star when it mattered most. He scored all 12 of Miami's points over a 13-minute span.

Jason Williams also scored 23 points, and Udonis Haslem had 12 points and 16 rebounds for the Heat, who are 2-2 since Wade's injury. Wade was scheduled to get a second opinion yesterday to determine whether he should have season-ending surgery.

Arenas, basically a one-man band for the third straight game because of injuries to Butler (back) and Jamison (knee), scored 15 points on 3-for-18 shooting. He is 14-for-61 over his last three games.

Celtics 102, Knicks 94

At Boston, Gerald Green scored 10 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, including seven straight after Boston had finished blowing a 23-point lead, helping the Celtics beat New York.

Al Jefferson had 26 points and nine rebounds and Paul Pierce added 24 points for the Celtics, who have won two in a row for the first time since winning five straight Dec. 9 to 16. After that, they lost 25 of 27 games, including 18 straight losses that set a franchise record and made a run at the NBA mark of 24.

Rajon Rondo had nine rebounds and eight assists for the Celtics in their first game in Boston since former point guard Dennis Johnson died last week at the age of 52. The Celtics observed a moment of silence in his memory, and even former nemesis Isiah Thomas paid tribute.

Jazz 104, Grizzlies 88

At Memphis, Tennessee, Carlos Boozer had 24 points and 16 rebounds, and reserve Matt Harpring added 25 points to lead Utah over Memphis.

Boozer shot 12-of-16 from the field and Harpring was 7-of-12, helping Utah overcome early shooting woes and finish the game at 54 percent.

Pau Gasol led Memphis with 28 points and 13 rebounds. But he had only six points after halftime, missing six of his seven shots. Mike Miller added 17 points for Memphis, while Hakim Warrick finished with 13.

Hornets 107, Hawks 100

At Oklahoma City, Chris Paul had 24 points, 13 in the fourth quarter, Tyson Chandler added 18 points and 13 rebounds, and New Orleans beat Atlanta.

Devin Brown scored 19 points and David West 17 for the Hornets, who won for the 12th time in their past 13 home games.

Raptors 106, Rockets 90

At Houston, Andrea Bargnani scored 20 points, and the Toronto Raptors used a torrid shooting first half to build a 20-point lead and beat Houston.

T.J. Ford and Kris Humphries added 16 points apiece for the Raptors, who have won 10 of 13. The Raptors hit 69 percent (29-of-42) the first half, including 16 of 20 shots (80 percent) in the second quarter alone.

Tracy McGrady scored 22 points for Houston, which has lost four of six.

Bulls 113, Warriors 83

At Chicago, Ben Gordon scored 16 of his 22 points in the first quarter and rookie Tyrus Thomas tied a career high with 14 points to lead Chicago over Golden State.

Reserve Adrian Griffin added a season-high 17 points and rookie Thabo Sefolosha scored a career-high 19 points for the Bulls.

Nuggets 111, Magic 101

At Denver, Allen Iverson scored 34 points, Carmelo Anthony added 23 and Denver Nuggets held off Orlando.

Kings 135, Bobcats 120

At Sacramento, California, Kevin Martin and Mike Bibby shot Sacramento out of its slump, scoring 36 and 30 points, respectively, in a victory over Charlotte.

Clippers 96, SuperSonics 91

At Los Angeles, Corey Maggette scored 18 points, including a pair of tiebreaking free throws with 27 seconds left, leading Los Angeles to a victory over Seattle.
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