Clippers beat Suns to take Pacific lead

Elton Brand scored 15 of his 27 points in the third quarter and had 13 rebounds to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a 101-91 victory over Phoenix on Saturday night in Los Angeles, snapping a first-place tie between the Pacific Division rivals and halting the Suns’ nine-game winning streak.

Brand also had a season-high six assists and was 11 for 12 from the line. Cuttino Mobley added 25 points and Sam Cassell scored six of his 24 points in the final minute to choke off a late Suns rally. Chris Kaman added 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Shawn Marion scored 20 points for Phoenix and Kurt Thomas had 13 points and 17 rebounds. Steve Nash added 16 points and 11 assists.

Hawks 94, Spurs 84: At Atlanta, the NBA’s longest losing streak and second-longest winning streak came to unlikely ends when Atlanta beat San Antonio to deny the Spurs their best 20-game start in franchise history.

The Hawks snapped their seven-game losing streak, winning for only the third time this season and the first time since Nov. 25.

The Spurs saw their six-game winning streak end.

Joe Johnson led the Hawks with 22 points. Tony Parker led San Antonio with 20 points.

Timberwolves 95, Lakers 82: At Minneapolis, Kevin Garnett scored a season-high 30 points, Wally Szczerbiak added 25 and Minnesota won its fifth straight game by stopping Los Angeles’ winning streak at four.

Marko Jaric had 12 points and a season-best nine assists for the Timberwolves, who never trailed and have beaten the Lakers three times this season.

Bucks 111, Cavaliers 106: At Milwaukee, LeBron James scored an NBA season-high 52 points, but T.J. Ford tied his career high with 24 and Michael Redd added 23 to help Milwaukee beat Cleveland.

Andrew Bogut had a career-high 21 points, including seven down the stretch as the Bucks handed Cleveland its seventh consecutive loss in Milwaukee since March 8, 2002. The Bucks have won five of their last six games.

Mavericks 103, Celtics 94: At Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki had 24 points and nine rebounds, Devin Harris added 19 points and Dallas stretched its winning streak to five games with a victory over Boston.

Paul Pierce led Boston with 28 points. Al Jefferson added 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Celtics.

Pacers 80, Grizzlies 66: At Indianapolis, Jermaine O’Neal had 20 points and 14 rebounds, Stephen Jackson added 16 points and Jeff Foster gave Indiana a huge lift off the bench with nine points and 10 rebounds in a victory over Memphis.

Shane Battier led Memphis with 13 points and Pao Gasol added 11.

Bulls 118, Wizards 111: At Washington, Chris Duhon scored all of his 24 points in the second half, Kirk Hinrich had 22 points, 13 assists and seven rebounds, and Chicago rallied from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat Washington.

Gilbert Arenas scored 42 points for the Wizards, but he committed nine turnovers. The Wizards have lost nine of 12.

Magic 94, Nuggets 83: At Orlando, Fla., DeShawn Stevenson scored 18 points and Dwight Howard had 17 points and 14 rebounds in Orlando’s victory over Denver.

Carmelo Anthony finished with 23 points, and Marcus Camby added 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Nuggets.

With the victory, Orlando snapped a five-game losing streak and ended Denver’s winning streak at three games. It was Orlando’s 13th straight home victory over the Nuggets.

76ers 107, Nets 95: At East Rutherford, N.J., Allen Iverson scored 42 points and Kyle Korver added 25 to help Philadelphia beat New Jersey in the first game of the season between the top two teams in the Atlantic Division.

A night after combining for 69 points in a 119-115 win over Charlotte, Korver and Iverson shot 25 for 39 from the field. The 76ers shot 57 percent (41 for 72) overall to win their second game in a row after losing four straight.

Raptors 111, Bobcats 103: At Charlotte, N.C., Chris Bosh had 30 points and 11 rebounds and Toronto handed Charlotte its seventh straight loss.

Brevin Knight had 20 points and 12 assists for Charlotte. Jumaine Jones added 16 points for the Bobcats, who lost forward Emeka Okafor to a sprained right big toe in the third quarter.

Both teams blew 11-point leads in the game matching the teams with the second- and third-worst records in the NBA.

Off the court

Indiana forward Ron Artest was inactive for the Pacers’ game against Memphis, the second straight game he has missed because of a sore right wrist. … Orlando’s Grant Hill, sidelined all season after having surgery Oct. 31 for a sports hernia, practiced full-speed this week but didn’t suit up. His first game could be Wednesday night in New York. … … Former Purdue coach Gene Keady spent his first game on the bench as the new assistant for Toronto coach Sam Mitchell. “If he wants me to get a cup of coffee for him, I will,” Keady said. “I’m here to be a couple of extra eyes and give suggestions.”