Timberwolves Hand Frank His First Loss

Troy Hudson filled the shoes of Sam Cassell just fine, helping end the New Jersey Nets’ winning streak at 14 games.

Hudson, making his first start of the season in place of the injured Cassell, scored a season-high 29 points as Minnesota beat New Jersey, 81-68, on Wednesday night to hand Net interim Coach Lawrence Frank his first loss in 14 games.

“Losing is a part of the game,” Frank said. “Nobody likes it. Nobody accepts it. The only thing you can do is learn from it.”

Hudson, who has been hampered all season by a sprained ankle, erased any hope for Frank’s 14th consecutive win with 12 fourth-quarter points. Hudson and Fred Hoiberg scored Minnesota’s first 20 points of the quarter, and the Timberwolves used a 15-0 run to open a 75-58 lead.

Asked about his postgame speech in the locker room, Frank said: “It had nothing to do with the streak. No one talked about the streak. We just talked about getting better.”

Phoenix 113, New York 95 -- The Suns ended an eight-game skid and spoiled Stephon Marbury’s return to Phoenix.

Amare Stoudemire had 24 points for the Suns, who lost Shawn Marion to a sprained left ankle in the third quarter. Marbury, traded to the Knicks on Jan. 5, was cheered loudly when introduced and finished with 15 points and 13 assists.

Milwaukee 106, Boston 104 -- Walter McCarty’s three-pointer was waved off at the buzzer at Boston, the referees ruling it came too late as the Celtics lost their seventh game in a row.

Michael Redd scored 26 points for Milwaukee. Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 21 points.

Houston 90, Cleveland 84 -- Cuttino Mobley scored 22 points and passed to Yao Ming for a crucial dunk with 42 seconds left in a victory at Houston. Carlos Boozer had 16 points and 18 rebounds for Cleveland, which had a three-game winning streak snapped.

Golden State 99, Memphis 92 -- Speedy Claxton had a career-high 28 points and six assists at Memphis, Tenn., to help end the Grizzlies’ five-game winning streak. James Posey led Memphis with 25 points.

Utah 93, Seattle 92 -- Andrei Kirilenko had the Jazz’s final two baskets -- a three-pointer and a putback -- and finished with 22 points at Seattle. Utah won despite 40 points by Seattle’s Ray Allen, seven short of his career-high.

Detroit 107, Chicago 88 -- Richard Hamilton scored 21 points at Chicago as the Pistons beat the Bulls for the eighth consecutive time. Kirk Hinrich had 14 points for Chicago.

Washington 76, Toronto 74 -- Gilbert Arenas, called selfish Sunday by Kwame Brown, didn’t take a shot until 5:30 remained in the game and Brown had 16 points at Toronto as the Wizards ended a five-game losing streak. Donyell Marshall had 20 points for the Raptors, who have lost a season-high seven in a row.

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Milwaukee point guard T.J. Ford is expected to miss two to three weeks because of a bruised spinal cord. Ford was injured Tuesday after falling hard against Minnesota.... Seattle’s Allen was fined $10,000 by the NBA for publicly criticizing the officials after Saturday’s loss to Golden State.... The Atlanta Hawks agreed to guard Dion Glover’s request and released him. Glover, averaging 10.1 points this season, was the Hawks’ No. 1 draft pick in 1999, the 20th selection overall.... Former Laker guard Lindsey Hunter was placed on waivers by Boston.