BOSTON (AP) Paul Pierce scored 34 points to help the Boston Celtics take over eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

New Jersey fell to 1-3 without Jason Kidd and Kenyon Martin.

The Celtics moved a half-game ahead of Cleveland, which lost to Philadelphia.

New Jersey pulled to 98-89 on consecutive 3-pointers by Lucious Harris, who had 15 points as the starter in place of Kidd. The closest the Nets came after that was 100-93 on a dunk by Richard Jefferson with 32 seconds remaining.

Chucky Atkins had 17 points and Walter McCarty 15 for the Celtics.

Suns 99, Hornets 94

NEW ORLEANS (AP) Amare Stoudemire scored 25 points while Shawn Marion had 20 points and 10 rebounds.

New Orleans lost its second straight game without leading scorer Baron Davis, who's expected to be out up to two weeks while the Hornets embark on a five-game West Coast trip.

New Orleans shot 9-of-18 in the final period, including 4-of-6 3-pointers _ three by Steve Smith. Jamaal Magloire's jump hook had the Hornets as close as 95-94 with 35 seconds left, but Joe Johnson ended his 17-point performance by hitting a jumper over David Wesley with 13 seconds to go.

The Hornets needed a 3-pointer to tie, but Wesley went for a leaner from near the foul line. It bounced off the rim toward the sideline, and Phoenix regained control with under two seconds left.

Grizzlies 109, Rockets 86

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) Stromile Swift had 19 points and 10 rebounds, and the surging Memphis Grizzlies rode a big early lead to a victory.

Jason Williams added 18 points as Memphis won its fourth straight game and 12th in its last 14.

Five Grizzlies finished in double figures in a game so lopsided that most of the starters were on the bench for the final 10 minutes.

James Posey, Pau Gasol and Bonzi Wells added 12 points apiece for Memphis.

Steve Francis had 17 points for the Rockets.

The Grizzlies led 39-19 after one, 59-42 at the half and 86-65 going into the final period.

Bucks 115, Bulls 105

CHICAGO (AP) The Milwaukee Bucks remained in fifth place in the Eastern Conference and overcame an injury to Keith Van Horn to defeat Chicago behind 23 points from Joe Smith and 22 from Desmond Mason.

Milwaukee snapped a five-game losing streak to the Bulls in Chicago.

Van Horn did not return after spraining his left ankle in the first quarter. He scored six points.

In his third appearance with Chicago, Jannero Pargo tied a franchise record for most 3's in a game with seven. Michael Jordan and Jalen Rose share the record. Pargo scored a career-high 34 points, shooting 13-for-22 from the floor with nine assists.

Heat 119, Mavericks 118, OT

MIAMI (AP) Rafer Alston's 3-pointer with 0.5 seconds left in overtime extended the Heat's winning streak to seven games.

Marquis Daniels scored a career-high 31 points for the Mavericks, who lost their third in a row. Dirk Nowitzki added 25 before fouling out with 1:53 left in the fourth quarter.

Dwyane Wade had 24 points for Miami, which also extended its home winning streak to eight games. Lamar Odom added 26 points and 18 rebounds, and Eddie Jones and Alston each scored 20.

Odom hit the first of two free throws after he was intentionally fouled to pull Miami to 118-116 with 4.1 seconds left. Odom missed the second free throw, and the ball was tipped out of bounds off Antoine Walker's back with 2.5 seconds left. Alston caught the inbounds pass from Caron Butler and sank the winning 3-pointer from the left corner.

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