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ATLANTA -- Joe Johnson scored 28 points, Josh Childress added 20 and the Atlanta Hawks beat the Milwaukee Bucks 115-96 on Wednesday night to maintain the eighth and final playoff position in the Eastern Conference.
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The Hawks also escaped a major scare when X-rays on point guard Mike Bibby's left thumb were negative. Bibby left the game in the fourth quarter and didn't return, but trainer Wally Blase said he had a strain and would be listed as day-to-day.
The Hawks, winners in five of seven, remained a half-game ahead of ninth-place New Jersey, a winner over Indiana on Wednesday night.
Johnson's 3-pointer at the shot-clock buzzer made it 45-43 midway through the second to give Atlanta its first lead since 4-2.
The Bucks, 6-29 on the road, never came within double figures of the lead after Marvin Williams' 20-footer made it 96-84 early in the fourth.
Andrew Bogut led the Bucks with 27 points and nine rebounds, but the 7-foot center left the game after Williams accidentally hit him in the face midway through the fourth. Williams' right arm appeared to hit Bogut's nose on an inbound pass from the baseline. Bogut lay underneath the basket briefly before walking to the bench with a bloody nose. Full story
Knicks 103, Heat 96
NEW YORK -- Jamal Crawford scored 24 points, including the go-ahead jumper with about 2½ minutes left in overtime, and the New York Knicks ended their longest home losing streak in nearly 45 years by beating the Miami Heat.
The Heat erased a six-point deficit in the final 1:30 of regulation by hitting three 3-pointers, including Ricky Davis' tying shot with 6.4 seconds left. Davis opened overtime with another 3, but Miami managed only one free throw the rest of the way.
Zach Randolph had 16 points and 14 rebounds, and David Lee added 15 points and 16 boards for the Knicks, who had dropped a franchise record-tying seven in a row at home for the first time since Nov. 26-Dec. 17, 1963. New York has never dropped eight in a row at home during one season.
Rookie Wilson Chandler had 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Knicks, who had lost five straight overall and 12 of 13.
Wizards 104, Sonics 99
SEATTLE -- Reserve Roger Mason pumped in five 3-pointers in the fourth quarter in leading the Washington Wizards to a victory over the Seattle Supersonics.
Mason, averaging 8.6 points coming in, finished with 22 points. He matched his career high with six 3-pointers. Caron Butler had 21 points; he's averaging 27.8 points in his last seven games against the Sonics.
Kevin Durant scored 32 points for the Sonics. Damien Wilkins and Jeff Green each contributed 13 points, while Nick Collison matched his career high with 21 rebounds.
Seattle (17-55), which beat Portland on Monday, has not won consecutive games since winning a season-high three in a row Jan. 29-Feb. 2.
Sixers 121, Bulls 99
PHILADELPHIA -- Andre Miller hit all the right targets and had a season-high 18 assists, Lou Williams scored 23 points and Philadelphia romped again, this time in a victory over the Chicago Bulls.
That fast-paced, push the ball for easy baskets style of play helped the Sixers outscore the Bulls 30-2 in fast-break points en route to their 19th victory in their last 24 games.
Philadelphia -- 18-30 on Feb. 4 and seemingly out of the Eastern Conference playoff picture -- somehow has the fifth seed in its reach. The Sixers (37-35) are two games over .500 for the first time all season, have won 11 of 12 at home and are 11-2 in March to charge up the East standings.
Up ahead, catching the Wizards. The Sixers play at Washington on April 12.
Kings 107, Grizzlies 106 (OT)
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Kevin Martin scored 36 points and made two free throws in the closing seconds of overtime to give the Sacramento Kings a victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.
With the shot clock running down, Martin drove the lane and was fouled by Mike Miller, who fouled out on the play. Martin made two free throws with 7.6 seconds remaining.
After a timeout, Kyle Lowry drove to the basket and flipped up an off-balance shot that never hit the rim.
Ron Artest had 24 points and six steals for the Kings, who have beaten the Grizzlies 19 straight games at Arco Arena. Brad Miller contributed 15 points, 17 rebounds and eight assists. Mikki Moore added 15 points and seven rebounds.
