Raptors Rough Up Timberwolves

Kevin Garnett didn’t like it when Matt Bonner took him down and celebrated, so Garnett went after him.

Chris Bosh came within one point and one rebound of career highs with 24 points and 14 rebounds in Toronto’s 96-90 victory over the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, in a game where the Raptors’ Bonner was ejected for flagrantly fouling Garnett. Toronto ended a seven-game losing streak.

After Bonner knocked Garnett down with 5:24 left in the fourth quarter, Garnett charged the rookie forward but was restrained as Latrell Sprewell ran toward Bonner and pushed him.

“It was a hard foul. That really didn’t even spark me until I saw him pointing into the crowd like he’s some enforcer,” Garnett said.

Bonner was ejected, and Sprewell received a technical foul.

Garnett had 23 points but made only nine of 27 shots.

Phoenix 108, Utah 86 -- Joe Johnson had a season-high 30 points at Phoenix to help the Suns improve to a league-best 19-3.

It’s the NBA’s best start since the Dallas Mavericks -- led by Sun point guard Steve Nash -- started 21-3 two years ago. Carlos Boozer had 19 points and 11 rebounds for Utah.

Miami 98, Washington 93 -- Dwyane Wade had 29 points and nine assists, and Damon Jones made the game-winning three-point basket with 21 seconds left at Washington to help the Heat win its sixth in a row and sweep its four-game season series against the Wizards.

Jones’ shot came after Gilbert Arenas had put Washington ahead, 93-92, with two free throws.

Antawn Jamison had 26 points for Washington.

San Antonio 94, Orlando 91 -- Tim Duncan had 24 points to help the Spurs overcome a 12-point third-quarter deficit at San Antonio.

Orlando’s Steve Francis, who had 20 points, missed a score-tying three-point attempt in the final seconds.

Detroit 94, New York 93 -- Chauncey Billups’ two free throws with 2.6 seconds left gave the Pistons their first lead since the opening quarter and the victory at New York.

Richard Hamilton had 29 points for Detroit. Jamal Crawford led New York with 25 points, but his off-balance jumper with six seconds left led to the Billups fastbreak that produced the free throws that helped the Pistons overcome a 16-point deficit.

Denver 100, Boston 99 -- Carmelo Anthony’s 15-foot jumper with 3.6 seconds left lifted the Nuggets at Boston. Anthony finished with 25 points and 10 rebounds. Paul Pierce had 31 to lead the Celtics but missed a jumper at the final buzzer.

Cleveland 112, Portland 88 -- LeBron James had 25 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists as the Cavaliers won their ninth in a row at home.

Darius Miles matched his season high with 21 points for Portland. Miles’ first start of the season also fueled speculation of a trade of Shareef Abdur-Rahim, who he replaced in the starting lineup because of what the team called a hyperextended elbow.

New Orleans 98, Golden State 89 -- Dan Dickau scored a career-best 23 points, and the Hornets ended an 11-game losing streak and won their first home game of the season.

Houston 92, Atlanta 69 -- Tracy McGrady had 25 points at Houston to help the Rockets to their fourth victory in five games.

Chicago 96, Memphis 88 -- Eddy Curry had 20 points, and the Bulls used a 16-4 fourth-quarter run to earn their second road victory.