Jazz Sweeps Season Series with Pistons

Andrei Kirilenko had 24 points and 11 rebounds, and former Piston Mehmet Okur added 13 points and 17 rebounds as the Jazz beat Detroit for the second time this season, 94-90, in overtime Saturday night in Auburn Hills, Mich.

“I guess they have to lose to somebody, don’t they?” Kirilenko said. The win gave Utah a season-series sweep of Detroit and almost as many wins against the Pistons (two) as the rest of the NBA combined (three). The 26-5 Pistons, losers for just the second time in 13 games, had their 10-game home winning streak snapped.

“Even after playing them twice, and going to overtime tonight, I still can’t get a good feeling about why we have problems with them,” Chauncey Billups said.

Billups scored 24 points and Richard Hamilton added 18. Ben Wallace had 16 rebounds.

Phoenix 91, San Antonio 86 -- Shawn Marion and Steve Nash triggered a fourth-quarter surge that lifted the Suns at home over the Spurs.

Marion scored 11 in the fourth to finish with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Nash scored 10 in the fourth and had 22 points and 10 assists. Tim Duncan had 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Spurs.

Dallas 83, Minnesota 79 -- Dirk Nowitzki overcame 3 1/2 quarters of being pestered by Kevin Garnett to score seven straight points in the closing minutes, helping the Mavericks rally past the Timberwolves at Dallas.

Nowitzki scored 13 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter. Garnett had 26 points and 11 rebounds.

Cleveland 96, Milwaukee 88 -- LeBron James shook off a hard fall to score 35 points as the Cavaliers beat the Bucks in Cleveland.

James landed with an echoing thud under the basket on a drive late in the third quarter, but after having his left thigh treated led a fourth-quarter push that gave the Cavaliers their ninth win in 11 games.

James, who nearly banged his head on the backboard blocking a shot in the third period, added seven rebounds and six assists. Michael Redd scored 30 points to pace the Bucks.

Washington 103, Boston 102 -- Gilbert Arenas scored 31 points for the Wizards, who blew a seven-point lead in the final 29 seconds but still got the win over the Celtics in Washington.

Arenas’ two free throws with 3.5 seconds remaining secured the victory.

Chicago 111, Memphis 82 -- Kirk Hinrich scored 26 points and Ben Gordon had 21 as the Bulls shot 62% at home and ended the Grizzlies five-game winning streak.

Orlando 108, Charlotte 92 -- Dwight Howard had 19 points and 12 rebounds, and the Magic took advantage of the injury-riddled Bobcat frontcourt for a victory in Orlando.

Atlanta 101, New Orleans 93 -- Al Harrington scored 24 points and the Hawks overcame a career-high 29 points from Speedy Claxton to beat the Hornets in Atlanta.

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Tim Duncan has officially notified USA Basketball that he will not be a part of the U.S. team that will compete at this year’s world championships and the 2008 Olympics.