url] . "I never commented to anyone that I wanted out," he explained. "My heart is with this group and making the playoffs." Kesler added that the rumours are "completely false" that he asked to be traded - recently or ev

PHOENIX - When the Phoenix Suns big lead was fading away fast in the fourth quarter, P.J. Tucker put a stop to the collapse.The Suns forward, not usually a big part of the high-scoring teams offence, scored 10 of his 12 points and grabbed seven of his 10 rebounds in the fourth quarter to help Phoenix hold on for a 106-98 victory over the worn-out Washington Wizards on Wednesday night.P.J. doesnt get a lot of opportunities, Suns coach Jeff Hornacek said. But late in the games, he really gets tuned in.Goran Dragic scored 20 points to lead five Phoenix players in double figures.The Wizards trailed by 22 in the first half and 18 early in the fourth quarter before twice cutting it to four.It was our fourth game in five nights and we were playing teams that were pretty fast, Washingtons John Wall said, Denver and L.A. and now them, so it was tough. Im not looking for excuses but we definitely didnt have the same energy as we usually do.The Wizards Otto Porter scored eight consecutive points to slice the lead to 101-97 with 1:17 left, but Markieff Morris high-arching 15-footer with 23.9 seconds to go put Phoenix up 103-97.But it was Tucker from long-range and on the boards that pulled this one out.He drilled two big 3s to extend the lead back out there, Hornacek said, and then P.J. does what he usually does — gets big rebounds at the end of games.Phoenix, which hadnt played since Sunday, improved to 5-2 with one to go in its franchise-record eight-game home stand.Isaiah Thomas had 18 and Morris 16 for the Suns.Porter and Marcin Gortat scored 14 each for the Wizards.Washingtons standout backcourt of Wall and Bradley Beal were a combined 10-for-31 shooting. Beal was 5 of 15 for 13 points. Wall, who tweaked his ankle the previous night against the Lakers and has been bothered by migraines, missed his first five shots and finished 5 for 16 for 11 points.Brandan Wright scored 13, his most since coming to Phoenix.We let our inefficiency from an offensive standpoint drain our energy in the first half, Wizards coach Randy Wittman said. You cant do that — missing some easy layups, missing some easy shots. It just kind of sucked the energy out of us.Washington scored the first seven of the second half, then later mounted a 9-0 run to cut it to 62-57 on Paul Pierces driving layup with 6:39 left in the third.Consecutive 3s by Dragic, Thomas and Marcus Morris restored the lead to 76-59 and the Suns were up 80-66 after three.A lineup entirely made up of Washington reserves went on a 17-3 run to cut the lead to 91-87 with 6:58 left. The Suns scored the next eight, four by Tucker, to go up 99-87, but Porters scoring binge made it close one last time.They had their bench come off with some energy, some unexpected energy, Tucker said. But you expect them to make a run. In those type of games, when theyre making runs you got to get offensive rebounds and make sure you secure defensive rebounds and make free throws.The Suns swept the season series from Washington for the sixth time in eight seasons.TECHNICAL ADJUSTMENTCoach Jeff Hornacek has softened his no-technical policy. Trying to eliminate the flurry of technical fouls his players draw, he decided to bench anyone who got one for the rest of that game. Dragic and Markieff Morris did and sat as Phoenix lost the last two. Now the benching is at Hornaceks discretion. He wants the players to police each other.TIP-INSWizards: Nene sat out the game with a sore right foot. ... Paul Pierce returned after missing the Lakers game with a sore right big toe. ... Washington is 8-4 in the second of back-to-back games.Suns: Phoenix is 15-6 since going with a starting lineup of Bledsoe, Dragic, P.J. Tucker, Markieff Morris and Alex Len at Charlotte on Dec. 17. ... Suns are 8-1 when playing on two days rest. ... Suns practiced at owner Robert Sarvers house when US Airways Center was being used for Super Bowl media day on Tuesday.UP NEXTWizards: Return home to meet Raptors on Saturday.Suns: Conclude eight-game homestand against Bulls on Friday. Ryan Reaves Jersey . The result means Atletico Madrid now tops the table, with Madrid level on points in second and Barcelona a point behind in third with nine games remaining as the title race shapes up to be the closest in years. Griffin Reinhart Jersey . Simona Halep of Romania claimed the fifth title of her career by beating Samantha Stosur of Australia 7-6 (1), 6-2 in the womens final. After trading sets, Gasquet trailed 4-3 in the decider but broke back to 4-4 in a game that went to seven deuces with Kukushkin constantly failing on his forehand shots. http://www.goldenknightssale.com/authent...knights-jersey/. After a 99-97 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night, his Celtics coaches and teammates have only positive things to say about the Toronto-born rookie. Nate Schmidt Jersey . Neither player was available Saturday for the Knicks 107-98 loss in Atlanta. "Were going in a different direction and weve got to figure out another spot or two for our ballclub," coach Mike Woodson said before the game. Jon Merrill Jersey . "I never commented to anyone that I wanted out," he explained. "My heart is with this group and making the playoffs." Kesler added that the rumours are "completely false" that he asked to be traded - recently or ever.OAKLAND, Calif. -- Outfielder Sam Fuld has reached agreement on a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics that includes an invitation to big league spring training. Assistant general manager David Forst confirmed the deal Tuesday. Fuld, 32, would receive an $800,000, one-year contract if hes added to the 40-man roster. The two-time defending AL West champion As have a deep outfield already, with returning starters Yoenis Cesppedes in left field, Coco Crisp in centre and Josh Reddick in right.dddddddddddd Fuld batted .199 with two home runs and 17 RBIs in 119 games for Tampa Bay last season. Also Tuesday, Oakland promoted Farhan Zaidi to assistant general manager/director of baseball operations. The 37-year-old, an economics whiz entering his 10th season in the front office, has been director of baseball operations for the club since 2009. ' ' '