NBA: Phoenix 118, Denver 115

PHOENIX, March 24 (UPI) -- Grant Hill had 23 points and 10 rebounds and Steve Nash scored 15 Monday to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 118-115 victory over Denver.

Jason Richardson scored 22 and Shaquille O'Neal had 19 for the Suns, who have won five straight and pulled to within three games of the Dallas Mavericks for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff berth.

Carmelo Anthony scored 29 points and Chauncey Billups had 20 points and eight assists for the Nuggets, who had a five-game winning streak snapped.

Denver leads second-place Utah and Portland by one game in the Northwest Division.

The Nuggets' Kenyon Martin was called for an offensive foul with the game tied 113-113 and just over a minute to play. Hill made it 115-113 Phoenix with a jumper at 11:01.

With less than 20 seconds remaining Billups missed a layup and Hill was fouled pulling down the rebound. Hill made one of two free throws and then Billups followed with a pair of free throws to make it 116-115.

Nash was fouled on the ensuing inbounds pass and made both foul shots to make it 118-115 in the closing seconds.