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Suns set record with 16th straight wins
2007-01-27
The Phoenix Suns sounded far from satisfied after running their winning streak to a team-record 16 games, while Jamal Crawford made Miami look helpless with a 52-point performance on Broadway. Muzi.com News 10034177-0 (muzi.com)The Washington Wizards, however, felt pretty good about themselves following a big victory at Detroit. Muzi.com News 10034177-1 (muzi.com) Raja Bell scored 27 points to lead all five Phoenix starters in double figures, and the seemingly unstoppable Suns beat Milwaukee 98-90 Friday night for their 32nd win in 34 games. Muzi.com News 10034177-2 (muzi.com) Shawn Marion grabbed 23 rebounds and Steve Nash had 16 assists for visiting Phoenix, which had a 15-game winning streak earlier this season. That spurt ended with a 144-139 overtime loss to Washington on Dec. 22. Muzi.com News 10034177-3 (muzi.com) This win gave the Suns a tie for the 10th-longest streak in NBA history, and the longest since the Los Angeles Lakers reeled off 19 straight victories in 2000. Muzi.com News 10034177-4 (muzi.com) Still, Nash was frustrated after his team struggled to put away the short-handed Bucks. Muzi.com News 10034177-5 (muzi.com) "It's hard to feel real proud about it because we haven't been playing as well as we can for much of the streak," the two-time MVP said. Muzi.com News 10034177-6 (muzi.com) It's hard to envision anyone playing much better than Crawford, who connected on 16 straight shots from the field and set a career high for points in New York's 116-96 victory over the Heat at Madison Square Garden. Muzi.com News 10034177-7 (muzi.com) "That was the best performance I've ever seen inside the Garden other than Michael Jordan," Knicks teammate Stephon Marbury said. Muzi.com News 10034177-8 (muzi.com) The Wizards also were buzzing after taking over the top spot in the Eastern Conference from Detroit with a 99-96 victory over the Pistons. Antawn Jamison scored a season-high 35 points and Gilbert Arenas had 25 points and 10 assists to help Washington (25-17) win for the fifth time in six games. Muzi.com News 10034177-9 (muzi.com) "It feels good because we deserve this," Arenas said. "We've fought our way back." Muzi.com News 10034177-10 (muzi.com) In other games, it was: Atlanta 93, Orlando 90; Toronto 96, Boston 90; Cleveland 105, Philadelphia 97; San Antonio 112, Memphis 96; New Orleans 88, Sacramento 84; Houston 99, Portland 69; Utah 116, Denver 111; Seattle 102, Minnesota 100; and Charlotte 106, the Los Angeles Lakers 97 in overtime. Muzi.com News 10034177-11 (muzi.com) At Auburn Hills, Mich., Jamison had a pair of three-point plays midway through the fourth quarter and made a 3-pointer with 50.1 seconds left to give the Wizards a 95-94 lead. Muzi.com News 10034177-12 (muzi.com) Rasheed Wallace missed an open 3 that could have put the Pistons back in front. Richard Hamilton scored 27 points for Detroit (24-17), which lost for the first time in four games with Chris Webber in the starting lineup. Muzi.com News 10034177-13 (muzi.com) Much of the final quarter had the feel of a playoff game, with four lead changes and four ties in the last 3 1/2 minutes. It seemed that each time Detroit made a shot or stop, the Wizards answered with a clutch play. Muzi.com News 10034177-14 (muzi.com) "That was a heavyweight fight," Washington coach Eddie Jordan said. "We took a Joe Frazier left hook, and we got right up. Muzi.com News 10034177-15 (muzi.com) "I know they are going to be ready for a rematch. Just because we're up in the standings, we are not the champions of the East. They've been the champions and we are always going to be the hunter, not the hunted." Muzi.com News 10034177-16 (muzi.com) At New York, Crawford missed his first four shots, then didn't misfire again until 2:16 remained in the third quarter. He finished 20-of-30 from the field and 8-for-10 from 3-point range, leaving to a standing ovation with 6:51 left. Muzi.com News 10034177-17 (muzi.com) No player had made 16 consecutive attempts in a game in the last 10 years, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Muzi.com News 10034177-18 (muzi.com) Four nights after the Knicks allowed 27 consecutive points in an embarrassing loss to a Miami team that was without Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal, the defending champion Heat (19-24) were the helpless ones even though New York played without injured center Eddy Curry (strained left calf). Muzi.com News 10034177-19 (muzi.com) "Everyone has to do their job and everybody has to want to be here and everybody has to want to play," O'Neal said. "I'm getting sick and tired of this. I've never been five games under .500 in my career. It's embarrassing." Muzi.com News 10034177-20 (muzi.com) At Milwaukee, Amare Stoudemire scored 21 points for Phoenix and Nash had 18. "There's no rings for streaks," Nash said. "We've had a tendency to really take people lightly and not be as focused as we need to be, and I think you saw that again from us." Muzi.com News 10034177-21 (muzi.com) Milwaukee, which has lost six straight and 11 of 12, was led by Charlie Bell with 21 points. Charlie Villanueva, who returned after missing 11 games because of right shoulder tendinitis, didn't start but finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Muzi.com News 10034177-22 (muzi.com) Spurs 112, Grizzlies 96 Muzi.com News 10034177-23 (muzi.com) At San Antonio, Tim Duncan had 26 points, 13 rebounds and a career-best nine blocked shots for the Spurs in their last game before a three-week, eight-game road trip. Memphis played without center Pau Gasol (strained left hamstring) and dropped to 11-33 -- the worst record in the NBA. Muzi.com News 10034177-24 (muzi.com) Cavaliers 105, 76ers 97 Muzi.com News 10034177-25 (muzi.com) At Philadelphia, Drew Gooden scored 21 points and Cleveland relied on a balanced offense without injured LeBron James, rallying from 17 points down. Muzi.com News 10034177-26 (muzi.com) Andre Miller had a triple-double for the Sixers, grabbing a career-high 12 rebounds to go with 12 points and 13 assists. Muzi.com News 10034177-27 (muzi.com) James missed his first game this season because of a sore big toe on his right foot. He is expected to be available Sunday against Phoenix. Muzi.com News 10034177-28 (muzi.com) Hawks 93, Magic 90 Muzi.com News 10034177-29 (muzi.com) At Orlando, Fla., Joe Johnson scored a season-high 39 points, Josh Smith had 24 and Atlanta rallied from a 14-point second-half deficit. Muzi.com News 10034177-30 (muzi.com) Raptors 96, Celtics 90 Muzi.com News 10034177-31 (muzi.com) At Toronto, Chris Bosh had 26 points and Anthony Parker added a career-high 23 against injury-riddled Boston. The Atlantic Division-leading Raptors went on a 19-0 fourth-quarter run and reached .500 (22-22) this late in the season for the first time since February 2003. Muzi.com News 10034177-32 (muzi.com) The Celtics have lost 10 straight -- their longest skid since dropping 10 in a row in 2000. Boston is missing Paul Pierce, Wally Szczerbiak and Tony Allen. Muzi.com News 10034177-33 (muzi.com) Hornets 88, Kings 84 Muzi.com News 10034177-34 (muzi.com) At New Orleans, Desmond Mason scored 24 points and Bobby Jackson added 15 against his former team to help the Hornets hold off Sacramento. Muzi.com News 10034177-35 (muzi.com) Rockets 99, Trail Blazers 69 Muzi.com News 10034177-36 (muzi.com) At Houston, Tracy McGrady scored 17 of his 28 points in the decisive third quarter for the Rockets. Muzi.com News 10034177-37 (muzi.com) Jazz 116, Nuggets 111 Muzi.com News 10034177-38 (muzi.com) At Salt Lake City, Carlos Boozer had 25 points and 19 rebounds, and Utah handed Denver its first loss since Carmelo Anthony rejoined the team. Muzi.com News 10034177-39 (muzi.com)
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