ATLANTA -- Stephen Jackson scored a career-high 42 points and five Atlanta players scored at least 20 in a 138-124 win over the Washington Wizards on Friday night.
The last team to have five players score 20 points or more in a game was Orlando, which did it on Jan. 26, 1993. Atlanta last did it in 1968 at Seattle.
Bob Sura scored 28, along with 10 assists and nine rebounds, while Jason Terry had 23 points, Jason Collier 22 (a career high) and Chris Crawford 20.
In all, the game featured eight 20-point scorers; Gilbert Arenas led Washington with 30, giving him 70 over the Wizards' last two games, while Jerry Stackhouse had 29 and Juan Dixon 21.
Washington, which allowed 62 points by Orlando's Tracy McGrady on Wednesday, led by as many as 18 in the first half. Atlanta closed to 62-55 at intermission and opened the second half with a 9-3 run to cut it to one. Full story
Heat 82, Sonics 74
MIAMI -- Eddie Jones scored 19 points, and Rafer Alston hit two crucial 3-pointers in the final two minutes to help the Miami Heat escape with a win over the slumping Seattle SuperSonics.
The Heat led by 16 points in the first half -- thanks to Seattle tying a franchise record for futility -- but had to rally down the stretch after falling behind.
Alston hit back-to-back 3-pointers to rally the Heat to their fourth win in five games. Miami trailed 72-70, but Alston hit a 3 to put the Heat ahead then another to highlight a game-closing 12-2 run.
The Sonics, who lost their fifth straight game and ninth in 10, tied their all-time low for fewest points in a quarter and half. They had eight points in the first period and 25 at the break.
Nuggets 117, Bucks 111
MILWAUKEE -- Rookie Carmelo Anthony scored 31 points and had a career-high nine assists, and Denver tied a season-high in points with a victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.
Andre Miller had 23 points and Nene added 21 as the Nuggets scored 65 second-half points to win for only the third time in the past 12 games.
Milwaukee's Keith Van Horn scored 25 points, Desmond Mason had 22 and Michael Redd added 19 despite missing 11 of 15 shots. Milwaukee has given up at least 102 points in 13 of its last 18 games.
Denver used a 16-4 run bridging the third and fourth quarters to open a 100-85 lead on Anthony's 18-foot jumper.
Spurs 99, Warriors 74
SAN ANTONIO -- Malik Rose, starting in place of the injured Tim Duncan, scored 17 points to help the San Antonio Spurs defeat Golden State 99-74 Friday night.
Six other Spurs finished in double figures. Kevin Willis, at 41 the NBA's oldest player, had 16 points in 19 minutes, and Manu Ginobili also scored 16.
Golden State, after trailing by 14 at the half, cut the Spurs' lead to 57-51 midway through the third quarter on a 3-pointer by Clifford Robinson. But Rasho Nesterovic made a short jumper to start a 12-3 run by San Antonio.
A layup by Ginobili with 5:48 left in the game gave the Spurs a 86-65 lead.
Jazz 99, Suns 90
PHOENIX -- Gordan Giricek scored a career-high 33 points and the Utah Jazz continued their drive for a postseason berth with a victory over the Phoenix Suns.
The win kept the Jazz one-half game behind Denver for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Utah is trying to reach the postseason for the 21st consecutive year.
The loss was the 18th in the last 23 games for the Suns, the last-place team in the West.
Reserve Raja Bell added 16 points for the Jazz, including two key baskets late in the fourth quarter after the Suns had closed within three points at 88-85. Jarron Collins and Carlos Arroyo scored 10 apiece.
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