West’s best can’t slow down Wizards

Not even the top team in the Western Conference can stop the streaking Washington Wizards.

Juan Dixon scored 13 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter and helped the host Wizards to their seventh straight win, a 108-103 victory that sent the Phoenix Suns to their first three-game losing streak of the season.

The Wizards made up a 10-point, second-half deficit and pulled ahead with a 16-0 run in a game that had a rare MCI Center sellout crowd standing and cheering thunderously for much of the final minute.

Gilbert Arenas scored 26 points, Larry Hughes had 22 points and 13 rebounds, and Antawn Jamison had 17 points and seven rebounds for the Wizards. But it was reserve guard Dixon who was the late sparkplug for the second straight night.

Dixon scored 11 of his 13 in the fourth quarter Friday night in a come-from-behind victory at Milwaukee. He scored six quick points in the first quarter Saturday after Arenas struggled early, then returned to ignite a rally that helped erase a 93-84 lead the Suns held with 6:20 to play.

Bulls 86, Knicks 84: Eddy Curry’s layup with 2.4 seconds left sent host Chicago past New York for its sixth straight victory.

The winning streak is Chicago’s best since Michael Jordan led the team to 13 consecutive wins late in the 1997-98 championship season. The Bulls, who lost their first nine games this season, have won 12 of 15 overall.

Pistons 99, 76ers 95: Tayshaun Prince’s short jumper with 24.5 seconds left put Detroit ahead and his two free throws sealed a victory over Philadelphia at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Richard Hamilton scored 25 points for the Pistons, who extended their season-long winning streak to five games. Detroit has won 12 of 16 since falling to .500 on Dec. 11.

Timberwolves 92, Trail Blazers 84: Latrell Sprewell scored 25 points, including a pair of key 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, leading Minnesota over Portland at Minneapolis.

It was the second straight impressive game for Sprewell, who scored 29 points at Denver on Friday and hit big shots down the stretch to give Minnesota its second victory in its last six at Target Center.

Grizzlies 101, Bucks 82: Jason Williams had 25 points and eight assists, and host Memphis used a team-record 13 3-pointers to beat Milwaukee.

Williams had the bulk of the Grizzlies’ 3-pointers, connecting on 7 of 13.

Mavericks 98, Nets 93: Dirk Nowitzki scored 26 points, 16 in the second half after having X-rays on his left ankle, as host Dallas defeated New Jersey.

Nowitzki, who had 12 rebounds, is two points short of 10,000 points for his six-year career.

The Mavericks played the final 5 minutes of the second quarter without Nowitzki, who landed awkwardly on his ankle while passing the ball.

Magic 85, Pacers 84: Hedo Turkoglu had 23 points, and Grant Hill added 19 points and eight rebounds as Orlando held off a furious finish by Indiana for a victory in Indianapolis.

Reggie Miller missed a chance to tie the game from the foul line with 3.3 seconds left and Jamaal Tinsley’s desperation heave from halfcourt banked in, but it was ruled he shot after the buzzer.

Rockets 73, Spurs 67: Tracy McGrady scored 28 points and came up with many clutch plays during Houston’s victory over visiting San Antonio.

McGrady sparked the Rockets’ strong finish by converting a three-point play, making a couple of free throws and finding Bob Sura alone behind the arc for a 3-pointer that gave Houston a 64-57 lead with 2:49 to go. McGrady nailed a clinching 3-pointer with 34.6 seconds left, putting Houston ahead 69-61.

Cavaliers 84, Jazz 71: LeBron James scored 10 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter and Cleveland rallied from a 19-point deficit to beat Utah at Salt Lake City.

The Cavaliers outscored Utah 31-14 in the final quarter and held former teammate Carlos Boozer to three points in the second half. Boozer signed with the Jazz as a restricted free agent last summer, sparking a bitter falling out with the Cleveland front office.

Kings 99, Clippers 95: At Sacramento, Calif., Chris Webber had a season-high 36 points and 10 rebounds in Sacramento’s victory over Los Angeles.

Peja Stojakovic made four 3-pointers and had 24 points, and Cuttino Mobley scored 13 points in his Kings debut.

Mobley, acquired from Orlando for Doug Christie on Monday, struggled in the opening half, but finished well, including a driving layup with 1:39 left to put the Kings ahead 93-88.

Lakers 104, Warriors 102: Lamar Odom made a driving a layup with 1.3 seconds left, and Los Angeles won its first game of the season without Kobe Bryant, beating Golden State in Oakland, Calif.

Chucky Atkins added 20 points as the Lakers hung on through the frantic final minutes without Bryant, who went on the injured list after spraining his ankle Thursday against Cleveland.

Bryant, the NBA’s second-leading scorer, is expected to miss about three weeks. He didn’t make the trip to Oakland, but he called several teammates with encouragement before the game. Rookie Sasha Vujacic made his first NBA start in Bryant’s place, scoring eight points.

Hawks 103, Bobcats 95: Al Harrington scored 22 points, and Antoine Walker added 21 points and 11 rebounds to help Atlanta beat visiting Charlotte in a matchup of the Eastern Conference’s two worst teams.

Four players suspended

Denver forward Nene and Minnesota center Michael Olowokandi were each suspended four games by the NBA for fighting. The two squared off late in the third quarter of the Timberwolves’ 93-83 victory in Denver on Friday night.

Nuggets forward Marcus Camby and center Francisco Elson were also suspended one game each for leaving the bench area during the altercation.