Wizards halt Bulls' winning streak at five games

CHICAGO – John Wall and Nene had 19 points apiece, Trevor Ariza scored 16 and the Washington Wizards beat the Chicago Bulls 102-88 on Monday night.

The Wizards led by 13 early in the fourth quarter and hung on after Chicago made one final push, ending the Bulls' five-game win streak.

Nene scored eight points in the final period and Bradley Beal came on strong down the stretch to finish with 13. He hit a jumper and three-pointer during a nine-point run that bumped Washington's lead to 96-82 with about 3 minutes left after Chicago pulled within five.

Wall scored four points during that spurt and had seven assists in the game.

Ariza hit a trio of three-pointers and the Wizards came away with the victory after dropping five of seven.

HIGHLIGHTS

• KNICKS WIN AGAIN: Carmelo Anthony had 29 points and 16 rebounds, and host New York held Phoenix without a field goal in overtime to win 98-96 for the Knicks' fifth consecutive victory. Anthony scored four of the Knicks' six points in the extra session, and New York allowed only four free throws while forcing the Suns to miss all seven shots.

• CELTICS LOSE AGAIN: Dwight Howard had 32 points and 10 rebounds, and Houston beat host Boston 104-92 to send the Celtics to their ninth loss in a row. It's their longest losing streak since dropping a franchise-record 18 in a row in 2007.

• DENVER'S RUN DONE: Alec Burks scored a career-high 34 points and Utah ended Denver's five-game winning streak with a 118-103 victory in Salt Lake City. Derrick Favors added 19 points and 15 rebounds while Trey Burke had 18 points for the Jazz, which has won five of its past six at home.

• ON THE MEND: Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson, who was injured in a collision Jan. 3, said doctors want him to rest for about two months before they determine whether he needs neck surgery to repair a herniated disk. Anderson said he is now nearly pain-free but is unsure whether he will play again this season … Bulls star Derrick Rose is off crutches, the next step as he recovers from surgery for a torn meniscus, coach Tom Thibodeau said.

ASSOCIATED PRESS