Suns Get Help From Outlaw

Bo Outlaw had season highs of 19 points and 15 rebounds as the Phoenix Suns improved their playoff chances with a 111-94 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday at Phoenix.

The Suns, who beat the Timberwolves for the first time in four tries this season, have won four of five overall to increase their lead to 1 1/2 games over idle Houston for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West with seven games to play.

The Timberwolves have lost four of five to fall a game behind Portland for the No. 4 spot in the West and home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Dallas 108, Orlando 90 -- Dirk Nowitzki scored 29 points and Steve Nash had 28 at Dallas as the Mavericks (57-19) retained their lead in the Western Conference. They hold a one-game advantage over San Antonio in the race for the best record in the conference and the Midwest Division.

Atlanta 97, Memphis 91 -- The Hawks, eliminated from the Eastern Conference playoffs following Milwaukee’s two-point victory Friday over Cleveland, never trailed after Jason Terry made two free throws with 1:58 left in the first quarter.

Pau Gasol had 25 points and 13 rebounds for Memphis, which has lost seven in a row and 10 of 12.

The Grizzlies, one night after blowing a 23-point fourth-quarter lead at home and losing to the Lakers, used a 15-3 run to close within 93-85.

Cleveland 79, New Orleans 76 -- The victory, at Cleveland, was the Cavaliers’ 15th of the season, and they need one more to avoid equaling the worst record in franchise history. They have six games left.

The Cavaliers went 15-67 in their inaugural season of 1970-71 and in 1981-82.

Chicago 117, Milwaukee 115 -- Jalen Rose scored 31 points and Donyell Marshall had 19 points and 13 rebounds at Chicago as the Bulls erased a 19-point deficit in regulation and won in overtime for the first time in a franchise-record eight tries this season.