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Stephon Marbury and Jamal Crawford each poured in 22 points and Nazr Mohammed added 21 to help the New York Knicks snap a seven-game losing skid with a 99-96 triumph over the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden Friday.
The Cavaliers were without LeBron James, who sprained his left ankle during Wednesday's win over the Memphis Grizzlies. It was the first game the durable young forward had missed this season.
Cleveland, trailing 97-96, had a chance to snatch victory in the final seconds but Zydrunas IIgauskas's jumper rattled off the rim to give Knicks coach Herb Williams, who replaced Lenny Wilkens after he stepped down last Saturday, his first win.
In Boston, Amare Stoudemire piled up 42 points and Quentin Richardson added 23 as the red-hot Phoenix Suns brushed aside the Celtics 128-119.
It was the third straight game the Suns had tallied more than 120 points, and this time six players turned in double-figure efforts.
Steve Nash scored 13 points and dished out 15 assists as the Suns collected their fourth consecutive win since breaking out of a six-game losing skid.
In New Orleans, the last-place Hornets used a balance attack led by 20 points from Corliss Williamson to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers 99-95
Philadelphia's Allen Iverson missed his second game in a row with a shoulder injury.
In Atlanta, Shaquille O'Neal had 26 points and Shandon Anderson chipped in with 21 to carry the Eastern Conference-leading Miami Heat past the Hawks 106-96.
Antoine Walker recorded a game-high 36 points and added 10 rebounds but it was not enough to stop the Hawks losing for the sixth time in seven outings.
In Orlando, Hedo Turkoglu claimed a season-high 31 points and Steve Francis found his range when it mattered as the Magic strolled to a 108-101 victory to end the four-game winning run of the Washington Wizards.
After missing his first 11 shots, Francis came through in the final minute when he scored four points, including a jumper.
In Charlotte, the expansion Bobcats had five players in double figures, led by 21 points from Kareem Rush, to post a 101-94 win over the Toronto Raptors and end a 10-game losing streak.
It was only the second victory this year for the Bobcats, who had not celebrated a win since beating the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 5.
