LEBRON James scored 35 points and Dwyane Wade added 33 as the visiting Miami Heat fought off a Washington comeback and defeated the lowly Wizards 123-107 in the NBA yesterday.

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 on 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 2? 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.

Andre Iguodala had 10 assists, and Spencer Hawes and Jodie Meeks each scored 12 points for Philadelphia, which can clinch a playoff spot with one more win or one more loss by Charlotte.

Kyle Lowry scored 19 points and Kevin Martin had 18 for the Rockets, who came in trailing Memphis by two games for the final playoff berth in the Western Conference.

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.

Chris Paul had 11 points and 12 assists, and Emeka Okafor had 15 points and 10 rebounds for New Orleans, which is actually tied with Portland in the standings but owns the tiebreaker, having won three of their four meetings.

LaMarcus Aldridge had 24 points and 15 rebounds and Andre Miller added 19 points for Portland.

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.

Chauncey Billups added 33 points, six rebounds and six assists, and Amare Stoudemire scored 23 points for the Knicks, who have won two in a row after a six-game losing streak.

Deron Williams had 22 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for 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.

Nowitzki missed the first of two free throws midway through the period, ending his streak of 74 in a row dating back to March 4. It was the longest consecutive free throw streak in the league this season.

Blake Griffin had 25 points and 17 rebounds for his 57th double-double of the season for Los Angeles.

Grizzlies 110, Warriors 91

At Memphis, Tennessee, Tony Allen scored 21 points to help assure Memphis of its first winning season since 2005-06.

Allen added eight rebounds and four assists, and Mike Conley and Zach Randolph scored 20 apiece for the Grizzlies, who improved to 42-33. Conley also had seven assists, and Randolph had 13 rebounds and six assists.

Monta Ellis and Dorell Wright each had 16 points for Golden State.

Pacers 111, Pistons 101

In Indianapolis, Darren Collison scored 20 points and Danny Granger added 17 to lead Indiana past Detroit.

Josh McRoberts added 15 points and Roy Hibbert 12 for the Pacers, who maintained their hold on the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference - one game ahead of Charlotte.

Rodney Stuckey led the Pistons with 24 points on 10-of-20 shooting. Richard Hamilton added 19, Tayshaun Prince and Greg Monroe 14 each and Chris Wilcox 10.

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.

Al Harrington scored 15 and Nene had 12 points and 15 rebounds for the Nuggets, who increased their lead over New Orleans and Portland to 2? games for the fifth spot in the West.

Marcus Thornton scored 27 and Tyreke Evans had 22 for the Kings.

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.

Diaw added 11 assists and seven rebounds, and Kwame Brown had 16 points and eight rebounds for the Bobcats, who won their fourth straight and remain one game behind Indiana for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

Ramon Sessions had 24 points and J.J. Hickson had 20 for Cleveland.

Bucks 104, Raptors 98

At Toronto, Brandon Jennings scored 25 points, and Andrew Bogut and Drew Gooden both had double-doubles for Milwaukee.

Gooden had 22 points and 11 rebounds, and Bogut had 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Bucks, who had lost three of their previous four games. Carlos Delfino added 14 points for Milwaukee.

Andrea Bargnani scored 22 points and DeMar DeRozan had 20 for the Raptors.