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Wizards Make It Seven in a Row

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From Associated Press

Not even the top team in the Western Conference could stop the streaking Washington Wizards on Saturday.

Juan Dixon scored 13 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter and helped the Wizards to their seventh straight win, a 108-103 victory at Washington that sent the Phoenix Suns to their first three-game losing streak of the season.

Washington made up a 10-point, second-half deficit and pulled ahead with a 16-0 run.

Steve Nash, the NBA’s assists leader, sat out after bruising his thigh in Phoenix’s loss to Indiana on Friday night.

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Chicago 86, New York 84 -- Eddy Curry’s layup with 2.4 seconds left at home gave Chicago its sixth straight victory.

The winning streak is Chicago’s best since Michael Jordan led the team to 13 consecutive wins late in its 1997-98 championship season. The Bulls, who lost their first nine games this season, have won 12 of 15.

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Cleveland 84, Utah 71 -- LeBron James scored 10 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter and the Cavaliers rallied from a 19-point deficit on the road.

The Cavaliers outscored Utah, 31-14, in the final quarter and held former teammate Carlos Boozer to three points in the second half.

Boozer finished with 12 points and 16 rebounds, pulling down seven in the opening quarter.

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Dallas 98, New Jersey 93 -- Dirk Nowitzki scored 26 points, including 16 in the second half after having X-rays on his left ankle, at Dallas.

Jerry Stackhouse had 20 points and 10 rebounds to help the Mavericks end a two-game losing streak and beat the Nets for the 10th straight time.

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Jason Kidd had 10 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for New Jersey, the 61st career triple-double for the NBA’s active leader.

Nowitzki, who had 12 rebounds, is two points short of 10,000 points for his six-year career.

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Houston 73, San Antonio 67 -- Tracy McGrady scored 28 points and came up with a handful of clutch plays at Houston.

McGrady sparked the Rockets’ strong finish by converting a three-point play, making two free throws and finding Bob Sura beyond the arc for a three-pointer that gave Houston a 64-57 lead with 2:49 to go.

Tony Parker scored 21 points for the Spurs, who were held to a season-low point total.

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Minnesota 92, Portland 84 -- Latrell Sprewell scored 25 points, including two key three-pointers in the fourth quarter, at Minneapolis.

The Timberwolves also took advantage of a thinned Portland front-line to gain a 44-32 rebounding edge. Missing frontcourt players Zach Randolph, Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Darius Miles because of injury, Portland went to a four-guard lineup during much of the second half.

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Detroit 99, Philadelphia 95 -- Tayshaun Prince’s short jumper with 24.5 seconds left put Detroit ahead at home, and his two free throws sealed the Pistons’ fifth straight victory.

Richard Hamilton scored 25 points for the Pistons, who have won 12 of 16 since falling to .500 on Dec. 11.

Allen Iverson had 28 points and 13 assists, tying a season high, for the 76ers.

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Atlanta 103, Charlotte 95 -- Al Harrington scored 22 points, and Antoine Walker added 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Hawks at home.

The Hawks led, 88-65, with 8:51 left to play but had to withstand the Bobcats’ cutting the lead to single digits in the final minute. Jason Hart scored 13 of his 19 points in the final period to lead the comeback attempt.

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Memphis 101, Milwaukee 82 -- Jason Williams had 25 points and eight assists, and the Grizzlies used a team-record 13 three-pointers to beat the Bucks in Memphis, Tenn.

Pau Gasol added 22 points and eight rebounds, and Bonzi Wells scored 21 points for Memphis, which won for the eighth time in nine games.

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Orlando 85, Indiana 84 -- Hedo Turkoglu had 23 points and Grant Hill added 19 points and eight rebounds as the Magic held off a furious finish by the Pacers in Indianapolis.

Reggie Miller missed a chance to tie the game from the foul line with 3.3 seconds left and Jamaal Tinsley’s desperation heave from half court banked in, but it was ruled he shot after the buzzer.

Jermaine O’Neal had 38 points and 15 rebounds to lead Indiana.

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