Allen’s late shot boosts Sonics

? With another last-second basket, Ray Allen ended the Grizzlies’ winning streak and ruined Pau Gasol’s big night.

Allen made an off-balance 19-footer with 0.3 seconds left, and the Seattle SuperSonics overcame Gasol’s franchise-record 44 points to beat the Memphis Grizzlies, 98-97, on Tuesday night.

Allen’s three-pointer with 5.4 seconds left Sunday gave Seattle the lead and helped the SuperSonics defeat the San Antonio Spurs, 106-102.

“Inside the first 20 to 25 games of the season, we were losing these games, getting beat by two and three points,” Allen said. “Over the last 10 games, it seems like we’re starting to win these games and putting some good things together.”

Allen dribbled to the left wing, and after Eddie Jones made a stab at the ball, Allen jumped left and shot the jumper which bounced on the rim before dropping through. Shane Battier’s inbounds lob as time ran out hit the backboard.

Allen noted that even the rim bounces on the winning shot benefited Seattle.

“It seemed as though it bounced the right number of times to where they really couldn’t get a shot off,” Allen said.

The Grizzlies had their seven-game winning streak snapped despite Gasol’s offensive effort. But Gasol’s points were part of the scheme Seattle devised against the Grizzlies, and Memphis didn’t have much of a supporting cast for its star.

Coach Bob Hill said the Sonics were not going to double-team Gasol in the post no matter how many points he scored, and leave the perimeter uncovered for the Grizzlies’ three-point shooters.

Wizards 97, Kings 84

Sacramento, Calif. – Caron Butler scored 23 points, Antonio Daniels added 17, and Washington snapped an eight-game losing streak in Sacramento. Recent CBA pickup Billy Thomas, a Kansas University product, added a season-high 14 points in a reserve role for Washington.

Bobcats 125, Hawks 117

Charlotte, N.C. – Gerald Wallace scored 18 of his career-high 41 points in the fourth quarter, and Charlotte beat Atlanta. Raymond Felton added 28 points and 10 assists and hit the clinching three-pointer with 31 seconds left. Charlotte shot 57 percent.

Pistons 97, Mavericks 90

Auburn Hills, Mich. – Chauncey Billups scored eight of his 31 points in the final three minutes to help Detroit defeat Dallas. The victory avenged Detroit’s worst loss of the season, 119-82 in Dallas on Nov. 19.

Magic 97, Bulls 93

Chicago – Jameer Nelson scored 24 points, Hedo Turkoglu hit two key jumpers in the closing minutes, and Orlando rallied.

Bucks 132, Suns 110

Milwaukee – Charlie Bell had career highs of 19 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds for his first career triple-double.

Spurs 98, Clippers 87

Los Angeles – Tim Duncan had 20 points and 13 rebounds, and Michael Finley also scored 20 points.