NEW YORK (AP) The New York Knicks snapped their four-game losing streak and might have saved coach Don Chaney's job Saturday night by shutting out the Milwaukee Bucks in the final three minutes of a 94-88 victory.

Kurt Thomas had a season-high 28 points and 16 rebounds, Allan Houston scored 26, Stephon Marbury had 14 points and 11 assists and Penny Hardaway added 14 points off the bench.

New York snapped Milwaukee's five-game winning streak and beat the Bucks for the first time in three tries this season.

Two nights after the crowd at Madison Square Garden chanted ``Fire Chaney'' several times during a blowout loss to Houston, the fans returned to the usual practice of cheering for their team. Their loudest chant was ``Dee-fense,'' and the Knicks listened down the stretch.

Houston hit a jumper from the right corner to give New York a 90-88 lead with 2:18 left, and the Bucks had turnovers on their next three possessions. It stayed a two-point game, however, as New York missed three jumpers and then committed a turnover off a bad pass by Marbury with 32 seconds left.

The Bucks got the ball to Tim Thomas for a bank shot from 14 feet that rolled out with 11.8 seconds left. Milwaukee fouled Hardaway, who calmly made both for a four-point lead that clinched it.

Michael Redd led the Bucks with 19 points.

Wizards 94, 76ers 87

WASHINGTON (AP) Washington Wizards guard Larry Hughes scored a season-high 43 points, leading the NBA's second-worst team to a rare victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Wizards broke a four-game losing streak that included a Friday night road loss to Orlando, the league's worst team. Hughes scored 28 points in the first half, shouldering the load by necessity after the pregame news that Gilbert Arenas would be sidelined three to six weeks after re-aggravating an abdominal injury.

The Wizards won their first game against an Atlantic Division team this year, ending an 0-9 streak. They also ended a six-game losing streak against the 76ers.

Glenn Robinson scored 22 points to lead the 76ers.

Timberwolves 83, Heat 77

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Kevin Garnett had 28 points and 17 rebounds for the Minnesota Timberwolves, who earned a tough victory over the short-handed Miami Heat.

Sam Cassell added 18 points for the Timberwolves, who have won eight straight games at home and 15 of their last 18 overall.

Brian Grant had 17 points and nine rebounds and Lamar Odom chipped in 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Heat, who dropped to 4-16 on the road and 1-9 on the road against the West. Their next four games (Sacramento, Utah, L.A. Clippers and Denver) are on the road against Western Conference teams.

The Heat used only eight players and had just two healthy guards _ backup point guard Bimbo Coles sat out with a strained quadriceps and rookie Dwyane Wade is on the injured list with a sprained wrist.

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