Stackhouse stars as Wizards end losing streak

Reuters, Washington

Jerry Stackhouse scored 33 points and had nine assists to help the Washington Wizards to a 98-93 victory over the Phoenix Suns Monday.

Stackhouse scored the go-ahead basket with 40 seconds left and blocked a dunk attempt by Scott Williams a few seconds later to preserve the lead and ensure the Wizards ended a three-game losing streak.

Michael Jordan added 19 points and seven rebounds for the Wizards, who improved to 22-23 and moved to within a half game of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Stephon Marbury scored 29 points and had eight assists for the Suns, who finished 1-4 on their road trip. Shawn Marion and Joe Johnson both had 21 points.

In Cleveland, Ricky Davis scored 32 points to lead the Cavaliers to a rare win, 104-100 over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Davis hit the game-winning jumper with nine seconds left to give new coach Keith Smart his first win and end a six-game losing streak for the Cavaliers (9-36). Rookie Dajuan Wagner added 20 points.

Corey Maggette scored 34 points for the Clippers, 1-4 on their road trip and beaten in three consecutive games. Quentin Richardson added 20 points.

In Miami, Reggie Miller picked up 21 points as the Indiana Pacers edged the Heat 102-95 in a game that featured a confrontation between Ron Artest and Pat Riley.

Indiana guard-forward Artest and Miami coach Riley twice exchanged words and a few shoves as the Pacers won their fourth successive game while handing the Heat their second loss in a row.

Artest collected 18 points for the Pacers. Jermaine O'Neal had 18 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out while Al Harrington added 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Caron Butler had 22 points to lead Miami while Brian Grant claimed 12 points and 16 rebounds.

In Minneapolis, Kevin Garnett had 34 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to their sixth consecutive triumph, a 106-95 win over the San Antonio Spurs.

Wally Szczerbiak added 17 points for the Wolves and Kendall Gill 12.

Tony Parker scored 19 points for the Spurs while Tim Duncan had 17 points and 10 rebounds. Malik Rose contributed 13 points and 11 rebounds.

In Memphis, Steve Francis scored 22 points and had nine assists to guide the Houston Rockets to a 100-95 victory over the Grizzlies.

Cuttino Mobley and Maurice Taylor both added 16 points for the Rockets, who snapped a four-game losing streak. Yao Ming contributed 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Pau Gasol scored 26 points and had eight rebounds for Memphis while Drew Gooden added 19 points and 11 rebounds. The Grizzlies have lost four games in a row.

In New Orleans, Sam Cassell had 25 points and 10 assists to lead the Milwaukee Bucks past the Hornets 108-93.

Ray Allen and Michael Redd both added 22 points for Milwaukee, which has won three successive games to move over the .500 mark (23-22).

Jamal Mashburn scored 24 points, seven rebounds and six assists for the Hornets, who are also 23-22 after their second loss in a row. David Wesley added 20 points.

In Denver, Richard Jefferson scored 23 points as the New Jersey Nets routed the Nuggets 92-66.

Kenyon Martin added 17 points and nine rebounds as the Nets chalked up their 30th win of the season. Lucious Harris had 16 points for New Jersey (30-14).

Vincent Yarbrough scored 13 points for Denver (10-34), which has lost five games in a row.