Basketball
Amare Stoudemire scored the first 11 points for Phoenix en route to a season-high 44 and the Suns led all the way in a 110-100 victory over Utah on Friday night that pulled them within a game of the Jazz for fourth place in the West.
Brandon Roy rebounded from a cold spell to hit a 22-foot jumper with 0.9 seconds left and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Washington Wizards 76-74 on Friday night.
Brandon Jennings scored 35 points, hit a career-high eight 3-pointers and added eight assists in the Milwaukee Bucks' 114-108 double-overtime victory over the Sacramento Kings on Friday night.
Kobe Bryant had 22 points and a season-high 13 assists, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 104-96 victory over Minnesota on Friday night and sending the Timberwolves to their 12th straight loss.
Brandon Jennings scored a game-high 35 points on 8-of-13 from three-point range, along with eight assists as the Bucks fought valiantly to take down the Sacramento Kings, 114-108 in double- overtime.
Detroit Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey returned to the lineup on Friday against the Pacers.
The Toronto Raptors are clinging to the eighth and final postseason spot in the Eastern Conference, and hope to stay there when they open a short trip Saturday against the New Jersey Nets at the IZOD Center.
Amare Stoudemire was unstoppable, making 14-of-16 from the field and 16-of-18 from the free throw line for a season- high 44 points, and the Phoenix Suns defeated the Utah Jazz, 110-100, in a battle for playoff position in the Western Conference.
The Denver Nuggets will try to close out a three-game homestand on a perfect note tonight, when they welcome the Milwaukee Bucks to the Pepsi Center.
Kobe Bryant scored 22 points, dished out 13 assists and had four steals as the Los Angeles Lakers beat Minnesota for a 10th straight time, 104-96, sending the Timberwolves to their 12th consecutive defeat.
The Miami Heat will try to avoid being swept in the season series against the Charlotte Bobcats when they close out a six-game homestand Saturday at AmericanAirlines Arena.
Brandon Roy's leaner from just inside the three-point line with 0.9 seconds on the clock ended a streak of 14 missed shots for the star and handed the Trail Blazers a 76-74 win over Washington after blowing a double-digit lead late in the fourth.
The Utah Jazz will kick off a short homestand tonight versus the New Orleans Hornets at EnergySolutions Arena.
Kings rookie standout guard Tyreke Evans left Friday night's 114-108 double-overtime loss to the Milwaukee Bucks with a concussion.
The Boston Celtics are closing in on their third straight Atlantic Division title and will resume a three-game western road trip Saturday against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center.
The Chicago Bulls will take their untimely losing streak to the road tonight against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wachovia Center.
The Memphis Grizzlies are still mathematically alive for a postseason berth and will play host to the Golden State Warriors tonight at FedEx Forum.
Paul Pierce scored 26 points, Ray Allen hit five 3-pointers and had 19 points, and the Boston Celtics snapped Houston's four-game winning streak with a 94-87 victory over the Rockets on Friday night.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas is back in the Cleveland area three days before he is eligible to re-sign with the Cavaliers.
LeBron James became the youngest player to score 15,000 career points, breaking Kobe Bryant's mark by more than two years, and the Cleveland Cavaliers pulled away to beat Chicago 92-85 on Friday night for their 12th win in 13 games.
