Grizzlies’ Win Streak Is Fueled by Watson

Earl Watson has been running the show for most of the Memphis Grizzlies’ six-game winning streak -- tied for the longest in franchise history.

Watson had a season-high 20 points and nine assists while replacing Jason Williams (back spasms) for the fifth straight game, a 103-90 victory Wednesday night over the Atlanta Hawks at Memphis, Tenn.

Watson has 23 assists over the last two games.

“This gives me a chance to get more comfortable in the offense and the system,” said the third-year guard from UCLA.

“This is J-Will’s team,” Watson said. “I’ve just got his back until he comes back, and when he comes back, I’ll just follow his lead.”

Mike Miller scored a season-high 22 points, including 11 in a key third-quarter rally that included back-to-back three-point baskets as the Grizzlies took the lead for good, eventually going ahead by 15 in the fourth quarter.

“He’s playing with more confidence,” Memphis Coach Hubie Brown said, noting that Watson also had six rebounds. “That’s his toughness. He’s a tough dude.”

Jason Terry led the Hawks with 19 points.

Orlando 95, Washington 91 -- After beginning the week with a 19-game losing streak, the Magic won its second in a row with 27 points from Tracy McGrady at Washington.

Shammond Williams, who had a season-high 17 points, made three three-point baskets and sank two clinching free throws with eight seconds left for Orlando, which ended an eight-game road losing streak.

“I guess it took that 19-game losing streak for us to realize that we could be a pretty good team if we could all stay focused and execute on both ends of the court,” McGrady said.

Larry Hughes scored 19 for Washington, which saw injured guard Gilbert Arenas, wearing a road jersey, blue sweats and a headband instead of street clothes, get ejected after receiving two technical fouls in the first quarter after saying something to official Bernie Fryer.

Boston 126, Seattle 112 -- Paul Pierce scored 36 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, and Mike James added a career-high 24 points at Boston to lead the Celtics to their third straight victory.

The 126 points were a season-high for Boston, which beat its third consecutive Western Conference opponent after road wins at Denver and Utah.

Seattle trailed, 99-68, to start the fourth quarter but went on a 25-4 run to pull to 103-93 with six minutes left. Pierce, who had been on the bench for 10 minutes, was forced to return and immediately made two jump shots to help put the game out of reach.

Ansu Sesay led Seattle with 19 points.

San Antonio 102, Portland 77 -- Tim Duncan had 18 points and 14 rebounds as the Spurs never trailed at San Antonio in their fourth consecutive victory.

San Antonio, which never led by fewer than nine points after the first quarter, remained percentage points behind Utah for last place in the Midwest Division.

Portland, which dropped to 0-8 on the road, was led by Rasheed Wallace’s 23 points.

Milwaukee 94, Golden State 89 -- Michael Redd scored 25 points and Dan Gadzuric had career highs of 19 points and 13 rebounds, leading the Bucks in overtime at Milwaukee.

The Warriors lost to an Eastern Conference team for the first time in six games this season. The Bucks scored the first six points of overtime, and the Warriors didn’t score in the extra period until 10 seconds remained.

Nick Van Exel had 21 points for Golden State.

Utah 95, New York 73 -- Greg Ostertag scored a season-high 16 points with 12 rebounds and Andrei Kirilenko had 10 points, 12 rebounds, five blocked shots, six steals and six assists at Salt Lake City in handing the Knicks their sixth straight loss.

The slumping Knicks, who led in the first half, collapsed in the third quarter of their second game in two nights. The Knicks were outrebounded, 49-37, and shot only 28 of 79 from the floor.

Former Utah guard Shandon Anderson led the Knicks with 16 points.