Nets continue losing run

It was another miserable night for the New Jersey Nets as they suffered their 15th straight loss at the hands of the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Nets put in a battling performance with a game-high 32 points and 14 rebounds from Brook Lopez, but Portland managed to keep their noses in front throughout.

Greg Oden was top-scorer for Portland with 18 points while Joel Przybilla hauled down 10 rebounds.

The Minnesota Timberwolves also slumped to their 14th successive defeat as 22 points for Carmelo Anthony helped the Denver Nuggets post a 124-111 result.

Michael Beasley's late slam dunk earned the Miami Heat a 99-98 victory over the Orlando Magic.

Beasley finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds while Dwyane Wade also chipped in with 24 for the winners.

The Phoenix Suns top of the Western Conference standings following their 126-111 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

Amare Stoudemaire netted a game-high 28 points for the Suns with Steve Nash adding 11 points and 16 assists.

Paul Pierec poured in 27 points as the Boston Celtics edged out the Philadelphia 76ers 113-110.

Cleveland proved too strong for the Detroit Pistons as the Cavaliers ground out a 98-88 victory with 34 points from LeBron James.

Jason Terry poured in 27 points and Dirk Nowitzki added 25 as the Dallas Mavericks brushed aside the Houston Rockets 130-99.

The Charlotte Bobcats saw off the challenge of the Toronto Raptors 116-81 courtesy of 31 points and 13 rebounds from Gerald Wallace.

In Wednesday's other games, the LA Clippers slipped to a 86-73 defeat to the Indiana Pacers, the New Orleans Hornets claimed a 102-99 success over the Milwaukee Bucks in overtime, the San Antonio Spurs beat the Golden State Warriors 114-104 and the New York Knicks lost out to the Sacramento Kings 111-97.