By The Associated Press

SEATTLE – Ronald Murray scored a season-high 29 points, two short of his career high, and the Seattle SuperSonics overcame Paul Pierce’s 43 to beat the Boston Celtics 118-111 on Monday night.

Murray was outstanding in the second half, going 8-of-10 while filling in for the ill Luke Ridnour. Murray scored 18 in the third quarter and Nick Collison scored six of Seattle’s last nine points as the Sonics won at home for just the second time in their last seven games.

With the game tied 105, Murray converted a three-point play with 3:40 left, followed by a free throw from Damien Wilkins and a follow by Collison for a 111-105 Seattle lead.

Delonte West answered with consecutive 3-pointers for Boston, sandwiched around Wilkins’ free throw for a 112-111 Seattle lead. Pierce missed a chance to give Boston the lead with 1:29 left and Rashard Lewis made two free throws. West then missed a 3-pointer with 58 seconds left and Collison was fouled on the rebound and made both free throws. Boston missed its final two shots.

Pierce tied his season high and was the first player to score 40 or more points against Seattle this season. Kobe Bryant was the last, scoring 42 on April 8. Pierce finished five shy of his career high. Pierce shot 13-of-25 and was 16-of-21 at the free throw line, but was scoreless over the final 3:58.

Seattle put six players in double figures. Lewis was quiet after scoring 10 in the first quarter and finished with 21. Ray Allen added 18, but struggled through a 3-of-13 shooting performance.

Magic 108, Bucks 93

ORLANDO, Fla. – Steve Francis scored 21 points and Grant Hill added 20 to lead the Orlando Magic over the Milwaukee Bucks 108-93 Monday night.

Dwight Howard returned from a sprained right ankle that kept him out of most of Friday’s loss to the Lakers. He finished with 19 points and 14 rebounds, and gave the Magic a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter with an alley-oop from DeShawn Stevenson with 6:52 remaining.

Cavaliers 102, Bulls 91

CLEVELAND – LeBron James scored 12 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers past the Chicago Bulls 102-91 Monday night.

James surpassed 30 points for the 16th time this season and ninth in December as the Cavaliers stretched their winning streak to six games. It was their second victory over Chicago in five days.

Wizards 94, Lakers 91

WASHINGTON – Gilbert Arenas scored 34 points and keyed a second-half comeback to lead the Washington Wizards over the Los Angeles Lakers 94-91 Monday night for their third straight victory.

The Wizards ended the third quarter on a 21-3 run to take a 72-66 lead after trailing by nine at halftime and by as much as 16 in the second quarter. Arenas scored 10 points during the decisive run.

Nets 109, Knicks 101

NEW YORK – Vince Carter scored 27 points and Richard Jefferson added 23 to lead the New Jersey Nets to their sixth consecutive win, a 109-101 victory over the New York Knicks on Monday night.

Carter has led New Jersey in scoring in all the six wins. He has averaged 34 points during that span, New Jersey’s longest winning streak since winning a franchise-record 14 straight in 2004.

Jazz 105, Grizzlies 102

SALT LAKE CITY – Andrei Kirilenko scored a season-high 24 points in his return to the lineup, grabbed 14 rebounds and made two key defensive plays in the game’s final moments, lifting the Utah Jazz to a 105-102 overtime victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night.

Mehmet Okur had 23 points and 10 rebounds, and made a 3-pointer in overtime to put Utah ahead 102-100. Keith McLeod added a career-high 22 points, including the final two of the game on two free throws with 3.5 seconds remaining in overtime.

Mavericks 102, Pacers 80

DALLAS – Devin Harris scored 20 points, including a 20-footer that he intended to be a pass, and Jerry Stackhouse proved his injured knee is doing fine with an active third quarter that featured a tremendous dunk, leading the Dallas Mavericks to a highlight-filled 102-80 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Monday night.

Dirk Nowitzki added 23 points to help the Mavs tie San Antonio for the best record in the Western Conference at 21-7.