NEW YORK, 20 December 2004 — Shawn Marion grabbed a personal season-high 36 points and 14 rebounds as the Phoenix Suns eased past the Washington Wizards 110-96 yesterday to secure their status as the NBA’s leading team.
One day after downing the Seattle SuperSonics in a battle of the two top in the league, the host Suns improved their record to 21-3.
Quentin Richardson contributed 19 points to the Phoenix cause while guard Steve Nash had 13 points and 11 assists. The surging Suns claimed their eighth consecutive win and 17th in 18 games.
In Charlotte, Jamal Sampson drained two free throws with three seconds to play in overtime to earn a 101-100 upset win for the expansion Bobcats over the Houston Rockets.
Trailing 101-97, Tracy McGrady hit a three-pointer at the buzzer for the Rockets but it was not enough as the Bobcats celebrated their fifth straight victory at home.
Emeka Okafor, the second overall pick in last year’s draft, sparked Charlotte with 23 points and 17 rebounds. Keith Bogans added 19 points.
McGrady had 29 points for the Rockets while Yao Ming chipped in with 16 points and nine rebounds.
In Orlando, Cuttino Mobley notched 19 points as the Magic broke out of a three-game losing skid to pound the Denver Nuggets 117-95. Six players posted double figures for Orlando, including 17-point Dwayne Howard and 16-point Grant Hill. The Magic were in control from the opening tipoff and led by as much as 35 points.
The Nuggets played without top scorer Carmelo Anthony, who injured his left ankle against the Miami Heat Friday.
Dermarr Johnson had a season-best 18 points and eight rebounds for Denver, which has now lost four of its last five.
In Milwaukee, Allen Iverson poured in a NBA season-high 54 points to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 116-97 demolition of the Bucks.
Iverson’s points haul was four shy of his career-best as the 76ers recorded their fourth win in five games.
In Cleveland, Paul Pierce amassed 34 points and Gary Payton nailed three important free throws to help the Boston Celtics to a 114-107 overtime win over the Cavaliers.
Payton finished with 21 points, six coming in the final 67 seconds, including a three-pointer followed by three pressure-packed free throws which sealed Boston’s fourth win in five outings and handed Cleveland its first home loss in 10.
LeBron James rebounded from his worst outing of the season to score 31 points but the 19-year-old was not around when the Cavs needed him most, fouling out of a contest for the first time in his career.
In San Antonio, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili each had 21 points as the Spurs destroyed the Golden State Warriors 104-85.
The Spurs, who trailed by 14 points midway through the second quarter, also got 12 points and seven rebounds from double NBA MVP Tim Duncan as they collected their fourth consecutive win, and 15th straight over the Warriors at home.
In Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki posted 15 points and 12 rebounds as the Mavericks crushed the Atlanta Hawks 90-68. The Hawks were restricted to 28 points in the opening half.
In Detroit, Darius Miles hit a free throw with 0.5 seconds left in regulation to lift the Portland Trail Blazers to a 75-74 victory over the champion Pistons.
Nick Van Exel paced Portland with 14 points while Miles finished with 13. Rasheed Wallace had 17 for the Pistons, who lost for the third time in five games.
In Chicago, Eddy Curry picked up 23 points and 13 rebounds as the Bulls downed the undermanned Indiana Pacers 85-71 for their third consecutive win.
