Suns Clinch Final Berth

Phoenix is back in the playoffs, and probably headed for a first-round matchup with the San Antonio Spurs, a team the Suns have given fits all season.

Sunday night was no exception.

Shawn Marion scored 24 points and Stephon Marbury had 23 points and 10 assists as the Suns ended the Spurs’ 11-game winning streak and clinched the Western Conference’s final playoff berth with a 92-85 victory at Phoenix.

The Spurs also are the only team to beat the Spurs three times this season.

“It is a concern,” Tim Duncan said. “They’ve given us trouble all season long, and I have no doubt they’ll give us trouble in the playoffs.”

Phoenix shot 52% to win its fourth in a row and eighth in its last 10.

San Antonio still needs a victory or a Dallas loss to clinch home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. That would mean a first-round matchup against Phoenix.

Malik Rose scored 18 for the Spurs, who had won nine road games in a row, and 17 of their last 18.

Milwaukee 107, Indiana 98 -- Sam Cassell scored 33 points for the Bucks in a game marred by 11 technical fouls at Milwaukee.

Milwaukee won for the seventh time in its last eight games and Indiana lost its third in a row.

There were seven technical fouls called in the third quarter, six of them coming in a 2:15 stretch.

Minnesota 119, Chicago 95 -- Wally Szczerbiak tied a franchise record with 44 points at Minneapolis as the Timberwolves remained in fourth place in the Western Conference.

Minnesota remained a half-game ahead of Portland and one ahead of the Lakers in the bid for home court in the first round of the playoffs.

Szczerbiak matched Tony Campbell’s team mark, set Feb. 2, 1990, against the Boston Celtics.

Detroit 110, Memphis 107 -- The Pistons clinched their second consecutive Central Division title as Chauncey Billups scored the final eight points in the second overtime at Memphis, Tenn. Billups finished with 28 points.

Detroit, 8-0 in overtime games, is tied with New Jersey for the best record in the Eastern Conference.

New Orleans 94, Philadelphia 89 -- Jamal Mashburn scored 27 points at Philadelphia to keep the 76ers from clinching home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Hornet guard Baron Davis scored 16 points in his first game back after missing three because of a sore left knee. Allen Iverson scored 30 points for the 76ers.

Boston 94, Miami 86 -- Paul Pierce scored 32 points at Miami, and the Celtics took sole possession of sixth place in the Eastern Conference, a half-game ahead of Orlando.

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Canadian police questioned Milwaukee players about a woman’s accusation she was assaulted outside a Toronto strip club last Thursday.

General Manager Ernie Grunfeld acknowledged the investigation but didn’t reveal which or even how many players are allegedly involved. The Toronto Sun reported that the investigation involves two or three members of the team.