CHICAGO – Andres Nocioni scored 20 points, and the Bulls won their fifth straight, pulling away early on their way to a 100-82 victory over the Boston Celtics on Monday night.

Up 17-14 in the first quarter, the Bulls went on a 13-point run. They were ahead 53-35 at halftime and led by as many as 30 in the third quarter.

After scoring a career-high 31 on Friday against New Orleans and 24 the following night against Washington, Nocioni was 8-of-10 from the field and grabbed seven rebounds on Monday. Paul Pierce scored a season-low eight points for Boston, which has lost three straight and five of six. Eighth in the NBA averaging 26.9 points entering the game, Pierce shot 4-of-13 after bruising his right elbow in Friday’s 106-102 loss to Toronto.

Ryan Gomes scored 17 of his 19 points in the first half and finished with seven rebounds.

With second-leading scorer Wally Szczerbiak out with a sprained left ankle, Delonte West started and scored four points for the Celtics.

Wizards 106, Mavs 97

WASHINGTON – Gilbert Arenas had 38 points and eight assists as the Wizards ended the Dallas Mavericks’ 12-game winning streak with a 106-97 victory on Monday night.

All five of Washington’s starters scored in double figures in the first three quarters. Only once had the team accomplished that in a full game this season.

Antawn Jamison had 20 points and 12 rebounds for Washington. Caron Butler added 14 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the Wizards, who built leads of 20 points in the first half and 31 in the third quarter.

Dirk Nowitzki, who led Dallas with 27 points, capped a 19-6 run with a 3-pointer that pulled the Mavericks to within 102-95 with 1:07 remaining. Devin Harris scored nine points during the spree and finished with 14. Jerry Stackhouse and Devean George also scored 14 points for Dallas.

The Wizards went on a 17-4 run to open the third quarter, capped by Jarvis Hayes’ 3-pointer for a 76-45 lead with 6:24 remaining in the period.

A sequence earlier in the period epitomized the game. Arenas banked home a 3-pointer off the glass that gave Washington a 69-45 lead and Nowitzki’s ensuing jumper at the other end drew nothing but glass.

Spurs 129, Warriors 89

SAN ANTONIO – Eight Spurs players scored in double digits as San Antonio routed the Golden State Warriors 129-89.

Brent Barry scored 18 points to lead the team, and Beno Udrih scored a season-high 16 points for San Antonio, whose bench accounted for 75 points.

Tim Duncan had 15 points and eight rebounds, and Michael Finley and Tony Parker each added 14 points.

Anthony Roberson scored 21 points to lead the Warriors.

Knicks 98, Grizzlies 90

NEW YORK – Eddy Curry scored 26 points and the Knicks beat the Memphis Grizzlies 98-90 for just their second home victory of the season.

David Lee added a season-high 20 points, teaming with Curry to wear out the Grizzlies’ frontcourt. Curry, who had his career-best seventh straight game with 20 or more points, grabbed 15 rebounds before fouling out, and the Knicks shot a season-best 56.3 percent from the field. Quentin Richardson also had 20 points and Stephon Marbury finished with 16 points.

and six assists.

The Knicks snapped a four-game losing streak at Madison Square Garden, where they are 2-7. Coach Isiah Thomas said his team’s home woes were mental, with players worried too much about boos from the home fans. But the Knicks need to win at home now, or their season will get away from them. Monday’s game was the second in a stretch where New York plays a season-high six straight, mostly against weak competition, and 10 of 11 at Madison Square Garden.

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