Suns end Pistons’ 8-game win streak
Steve Nash returned to the Phoenix lineup with 16 points and 14 assists — including a crucial 3-pointer with 1:06 to play — and the Suns snapped the Detroit Pistons’ eight-game winning streak 100-97 on Thursday night in Phoenix.
Amare Stoudemire battled the Pistons’ bruising front line for 26 points and 10 rebounds. Quentin Richardson scored 20, including 5 of 8 on 3-pointers.
With the Suns leading 95-94 after Chauncey Billups’ layup with 1:20 to go, Nash, who missed three games with a sore hamstring, made the 3-pointer to boost the lead to 98-94, and then his two free throws increased the lead to 100-94 with 37.4 seconds left.
Rasheed Wallace sank a 3-pointer from the top of the key to make it 100-97 with 30.5 seconds left, and Shawn Marion missed from 3-point range to give Detroit a chance to tie it. After a timeout with 3.2 seconds to go, Billups’ 25-footer was off the front of the rim at the buzzer.
Heat 106, Nets 90: Shaquille O’Neal returned from a three-game absence and had 20 points and 13 rebounds, and Dwyane Wade led a third-quarter surge that sent Miami past New Jersey in East Rutherford, N.J.
Wade had 27 points, eight assists and six rebounds for the Heat.
The final two quarters were so lopsided that Alonzo Mourning was able to make his Heat debut during garbage time, playing the final 2:19 and grabbing two rebounds. The 11-year veteran, who left Miami as a free agent two summers ago, re-signed with the Heat earlier this week after being traded from New Jersey to Toronto and then being waived by the Raptors.
Nuggets 96, Pacers 87: Marcus Camby dominated the lane at both ends and Carmelo Anthony had 28 points, helping host Denver beat Indiana for the Nuggets’ fifth straight win.
The Nuggets improved to 12-4 since coach George Karl took over on Jan. 27 and moved into a tie with the Los Angeles Lakers for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Indiana lost its best player late in the second quarter, when All-Star forward Jermaine O’Neal sprained his right shoulder on a drive to the basket.
X-rays were negative, but O’Neal said the trainer had to pop his shoulder back in place.
Around the league
Gary Payton is on the verge of signing with the Boston Celtics, coach Doc Rivers said Thursday, a week after the nine-time all-star was traded to the Atlanta Hawks. That deal brought former Celtics captain Antoine Walker back to Boston, where he played seven seasons before being shipped out 1 1/2 years ago. Payton is expected to clear waivers today. He has already agreed to sign with the Celtics, reportedly for close to veteran’s minimum salary. … Wesley Person signed with the Nuggets, giving Denver a shooting guard for the playoff run to replace injured Voshon Lenard. The 6-foot-6 Person appeared in 16 games for the Miami this year.