Stoudemire helps send Suns past Spurs

Amare Stoudemire scored 21 points and five other Phoenix players scored in double digits in the Suns’ 96-79 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night in San Antonio.

The Suns won their second game in a row on the second night of back-to-back games and remained in sixth place in the Western Conference.

Shaquille O’Neal had eight of his 16 points in the decisive fourth quarter and grabbed nine rebounds for Phoenix. Steve Nash scored 12 points – including eight in the fourth quarter – and had 10 assists.

Tim Duncan scored 23 points and had 10 rebounds for the Spurs, and Tony Parker added 20 points.

The two teams continue to jockey for seeding in the tight Western Conference, but the result didn’t change anything. San Antonio remained in second behind New Orleans.

Raptors 111, Bucks 93: At Toronto, Chris Bosh had 32 points and 11 rebounds and the Raptors ended a three-game skid with a win over Milwaukee.

Former Raptor Charlie Villanueva had a season-high 38 points and a career-high seven 3-pointers. He scored 25 of Milwaukee’s first 29 points.

Magic 115, Bulls 83: At Orlando, Fla., Dwight Howard had 30 points and 14 rebounds to help the Magic beat Chicago.

Howard recorded his NBA-leading 67th double-double, one short of Shaquille O’Neal’s franchise record from the 1992-93 season.

Kirk Hinrich led Chicago with 19 points, while Ben Gordon and Aaron Gray each scored 13.

76ers 101, Pistons 94: At Philadelphia, Andre Iguodala scored 25 points, hitting a season-high four 3-pointers, and the 76ers defeated Detroit.

Samuel Dalembert added 20 points and 13 rebounds for Philadelphia, while Iguodala also had six assists, five rebounds and five steals.

Chauncey Billups had 18 points to lead Detroit.

Wizards 109, Celtics 95: At Washington, Antawn Jamison returned from a shoulder injury to score 27 points, including a highlight dunk over Kevin Garnett, and the Wizards beat Boston to win the season series over the league’s top team.

Paul Pierce scored 28 points, and Garnett had 22 points and 14 rebounds for the Celtics, who had 21 turnovers and have more or less been in exhibition mode since clinching the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Cavaliers 104, Nets 83: At Cleveland, LeBron James played with his aching back and the Cavs rallied from a 14-point deficit to beat New Jersey.

James, who didn’t practice Monday and Tuesday because of back spasms, scored 33 points, grabbed seven rebounds and had eight assists.

Knicks 109, Bobcats 107: At New York, Fred Jones made the go-ahead 3-pointer with 3:47 left and scored 15 points, and the Knicks beat Charlotte for their third straight victory.

•Isiah Thomas will finish the season as Knicks coach, but new team president Donnie Walsh needs a good explanation for why things went so horribly wrong for any chance to last beyond that. Walsh said the two will meet soon.

Hornets 122, Timberwolves 90: At Minneapolis, Chris Paul had 19 points and 16 assists, and New Orleans beat Minnesota for its franchise-best 55th win.

Peja Stojakovic scored 24 points and David West had 22 for the Hornets, while Rashad McCants had 23 to lead the Timberwolves.