WASHINGTON: LeBron James scored 35 points and Dwyane Wade added 33 as the Miami Heat fought off a Washington comeback and defeated the lowly Wizards 123-107 in the NBA Wednesday. James added eight rebounds and eight assists and Chris Bosh scored 26 points to help Miami avoid what would have been a second consecutive embarrassing loss. The Heat fell to last-place Cleveland Tuesday. The Heat led by as many as 13 before the Wizards made it a one-point game in the fourth quarter, even after their best player, John Wall, was ejected. But Wade responded with a three-point play, and Washington never got closer than two. Wall was kicked out of the game after a skirmish with Miami center Zydrunas Ilgauskas with 8:48 left in the first half and Washington leading 37-36. Ilgauskas and Miami reserve Juwan Howard were also ejected from the game. Bulls 108, Timberwolves 91: In Minneapolis, Derrick Rose had 23 points and 10 assists in three quarters to help Chicago remain 2½ games ahead of Boston and Miami in the race for the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Carlos Boozer added 24 points and 14 rebounds for the Bulls, who recorded 31 assists on 41 field goals. Kevin Love had 16 points and nine rebounds, but was limited to 27 minutes in his first game back with the Timberwolves after injuring his groin. Minnesota lost its eighth straight game. Hawks 85, Magic 82: In Atlanta, Joe Johnson's floating one-hander in the lane put Atlanta ahead with 55.4 seconds remaining and Orlando's Jameer Nelson missed two chances to tie it. Josh Smith led the Hawks with 26 points, and Johnson added 18. Nelson had 20 points for Orlando, but he missed a jumper with 38 seconds left and a driving layup with 6 seconds left. Atlanta won its third game in a row and took the season series with Orlando 3-1. Thunder 116, Suns 98: In Phoenix, Kevin Durant and James Harden each scored 22 points to help Oklahoma City complete its best regular-season month in team history. Michael Westbrook scored 16 points and Serge Ibaka added 15 as the Thunder won their fifth in a row and 11th of their last 12. They finished March 14-2, the best monthly record for the team in Oklahoma City and its former home, Seattle. Vince Carter scored 28 for Phoenix, which lost its fourth straight. 76ers 108, Rockets 97: At Philadelphia, Jrue Holiday had 24 points and 12 assists and Thaddeus Young scored 22 points to lead the 76ers. Hornets 95, Trail Blazers 91: In New Orleans, Carl Landry scored 21 points as the Hornets jumped ahead of Portland for sixth place in the Western Conference. Knicks 120, Nets 116: In New York, Carmelo Anthony scored 39 points for the second straight game, including the tiebreaking jumper with 1:08 left, as New York rallied from a 16-point deficit to beat New Jersey. Mavericks 106, Clippers 100: In Los Angeles, Dirk Nowitzki scored 24 points as Dallas rallied in the fourth quarter to win its fifth straight. Grizzlies 110, Warriors 91: At Memphis, Tennessee, Tony Allen scored 21 points to help assure Memphis of its first winning season since 2005-06. Pacers 111, Pistons 101: In Indianapolis, Darren Collison scored 20 points and Danny Granger added 17 to lead Indiana past Detroit. Nuggets 104, Kings 90: In Denver, Ty Lawson scored 20 points and J.R. Smith and Danilo Gallinari had 17 apiece as Denver won its fourth straight. Bobcats 98, Cavaliers 97: In Charlotte, North Carolina, Boris Diaw scored 26 points, including the game-winning free throw with 14 seconds left, as Charlotte defeated Cleveland. Bucks 104, Raptors 98: At Toronto, Brandon Jennings scored 25 points, and Andrew Bogut and Drew Gooden both had double-doubles for Milwaukee.
