Seattle ? Larry Hughes gave Seattle fits on both ends of the court.

The Washington guard scored 31 points, including nine in the fourth quarter, to lead the Wizards to a 95-94 victory over the SuperSonics on Sunday night.

The loss kept the Northwest Division-leading Sonics from clinching a playoff berth and ended their five-game winning streak. Ray Allen had 27 points to lead Seattle.

Allen was supposed to take Seattle’s last shot, but Hughes stymied him.

“I just wanted to get my hands in there and move my feet,” he said. “I was just making a defensive play. I like to play defense. I like to stop guys. It’s a challenge.”

Kwame Brown gave the Wizards a 95-92 lead with 54.4 seconds left with a pair of free throws after being fouled by Nick Collison. Seattle’s Damien Wilkins scored on a layup after getting an offensive rebound with 37.4 seconds remaining to make it 95-94.

Gilbert Arenas of Washington was called for an offensive foul for charging into the Sonics’ Antonio Daniels with 16.7 seconds left, and Seattle had one last chance.

But Hughes, the NBA’s steals leader, stripped the ball away from Allen. The Sonics got the ball back on the play, but Daniels’ last-ditch desperation three-point attempt was far short as time expired.

Hughes had two steals of Allen and scored on fast-break dunks in the final quarter when the Wizards went on a 9-0 run for an 89-80 lead with 4:42 left.

Seattle's Antonio Daniels (33) goes to the hole against Washington's Michael Ruffin (51) and Gilbert Arenas in the first quarter of the Wizards' 95-94 victory. Washington won on Sunday in Seattle.

“I’ve been doing it all year,” Hughes said of his defense. “Playing the passing lanes, getting my hand in there, being on the attack on both ends. We needed it and I was there to make it happen.”

Hughes, whose season high is 33 points and career best is 44, shot 12-for-28 from the field and had 11 rebounds. Arenas added 18 points, and Etan Thomas added 15 for Washington, which beat Seattle for the second time this season.

The seven-year veteran scored 30 points or more for the eighth time in his career.

“Larry played at a high level tonight,” Washington coach Eddie Jordan said. “Rebounding, steals, setting up the defense for us, being a leader.

“Larry took a challenge on Ray,” he said. “They’re both quality players. In my mind, Larry should have been an All-Star this season if he hadn’t been hurt and Ray has always been an All-Star. That’s the best the NBA can offer right there.”

Arenas agreed about the play of his starting backcourt mate.

“He did a great job, but that’s what he’s been doing all year,” he said. “I was off in the second half and he carried the load.”

The Wizards won two nights after losing in Los Angeles to the Clippers. They end a five-game Western road trip Monday night in Portland. They’re now 2-2 on the trip.

“We have to look in the mirror and come out and get better than we have been playing,” Hughes said. “There’s definitely no question that we have to come out and play better than we’ve been playing.”

Allen, who shot 7-for-20, blamed himself for the defeat, but surprisingly put the onus on his defense.

“I was disappointed in my defense,” he said. “My defense and us turning the ball over is what I think cost us the game.”

Timberwolves 89, Clippers 85

Minneapolis — Kevin Garnett had 13 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, leading Minnesota past the Clippers.

Garnett struggled for the second straight game, making just eight of 24 field goals. Sam Cassell scored 16 points off the bench to help Minnesota win its fourth straight. The Timberwolves moved within 21/2 games of idle Denver for eighth place in the Western Conference.

Elton Brand had 25 points to lead Los Angeles.

Spurs 83, Rockets 70

San Antonio — Brent Barry hit three three-pointers during a 21-2 run in the fourth quarter to help San Antonio rally for a victory over Houston.

The Rockets, who trailed by as many as 12 in the first half, went ahead 60-55 on a 23-foot jumper by Tracy McGrady with 10:31 left. The basket was the last of the game for McGrady, who finished with 26 points.

76ers 96, Lakers 89

Los Angeles — Allen Iverson scored 13 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter and tied his career high with 15 assists, and Philadelphia overcame his horrendous shooting performance for its third straight victory.

Iverson, who entered shooting 42.1 percent and averaging 30.5 points, shot 2-for-20 in the first three quarters and 5-of-28 overall along with 10-of-14 from the foul line.

The Lakers committed a season-high 27 turnovers in losing their eighth straight — their second-longest losing streak since they moved from Minneapolis to Los Angeles in 1960.