Magic 103, Nuggets 93

Those who wrote the Orlando Magic off after their poor start might have spoken too soon. Tracy McGrady is playing great, their winning streak is up to four games and Grant Hill will be back soon.

McGrady scored 36 points, reaching the 30-point mark for the fifth time this season, as the Magic defeated the Denver Nuggets 103-93 Thursday night.

The Magic won't play again until Monday, when Hill is expected to return after missing five weeks with a sore ankle.

"We're very lucky," Orlando coach Doc Rivers said. "First, we're on a four-game winning streak; second, we have three days to practice where (Hill) can really work on his conditioning. The next two days will be a training camp for him, and the third day, we will probably limit him so he will be fresh going into his first game back."

McGrady has scored at least 20 points in his last 12 games and has averaged 32.2 in his last five. McGrady also had a season-high 12 rebounds and four assists against Denver.

"You try to play up on him, and he goes to the basket," Denver's Ryan Bowen said. "You stay off him and he pulls up for the jumper. You've just got to try to do your best when you're out there."

KNICKS 86, SPURS 83: Latrell Sprewell scored 20 points as New York overcame a 14-point deficit to deal the Spurs their first home loss of the season.

The Knicks took their first lead of the game with 9:09 left in the fourth quarter on a pair of free throws by Chris Childs. They widened the lead to five with 4:25 left on a jumper by Glen Rice, but the Spurs closed to 84-83 with 1:08 left on a layup by Sean Elliott followed by a 20-foot jumper by Derek Anderson.

After Tim Duncan missed a 15-foot jumper for the Spurs, Allan Houston fired a 22-footer over Anderson's outstretched arm to make it 86-83.

Anderson threw up an airball from 3-point range with 14 seconds left. After Houston was tied up for a jump ball, Anderson missed a 3-pointer in the final seconds.

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SUNS 104, BUCKS 96: Cliff Robinson scored 35 points and Rodney Rogers 25 — both season-highs — as Phoenix won at Milwaukee.

Jason Kidd had three key baskets in the fourth quarter and finished with 16 points. His jump shot with 25 seconds left put the Suns ahead 104-96 and wrapped up the win.

Glenn Robinson scored 26 for the Bucks.

TIMBERWOLVES 105, WIZARDS 88: At Minneapolis, Terrell Brandon had 24 points and 12 assists and Kevin Garnett scored 24 as the Timberwolves handed Washington its sixth straight loss. Wally Szczerbiak had 18 points for Minnesota, which never trailed. Garnett also had seven rebounds and five assists.

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