Gordan Giricek scored 19 points in 25 minutes to help the Orlando Magic to a 98-93 win at the Philadelphia 76ers.

Giricek, one of Croatia's stars at the Eurobasket last summer in Sweden, also had four rebounds as the Magic won for just the 12th time in 44 games.

Hedo Turkoglu, Tony Parker and Rasho Nesterovic all made key contributions in the San Antonio Spurs 86-84 triumph over the Phoenix Suns.

Slovenian international Nesterovic, having by far his best season in the NBA, had 16 points and nine rebounds while Turkey's Turkoglu (12 points) and Parker (11 pts, three assists) also made an impact as the Spurs remained one and a half games behind Minnesota in the Midwest division.

The Utah Jazz, still without Russian forward Andrei Kirilenko (sprained ankle), suffered a 93-82 defeat against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Kirilenko has been the main reason why the Jazz have had such a positive first half of the NBA campaign but without their talisman they are now bottom of the Midwest Division with 21 wins and 21 defeats.

Serbo-Montenegrin Marko Jaric played 30 minutes and scored 11 points for the Clippers, who are now fourth in the Pacific Division with 18 victories and 22 defeats.

Germany's Dirk Nowitzki had 26 points and 11 rebounds as the Dallas Mavericks won their seventh straight, beating Chicago 106-93.