WASHINGTON -- With the NBA regular season in the final stretch, Eric Bledsoe and Goran Dragic are pushing the Phoenix Suns in the right direction, with a five-game winning streak keeping them in the Western Conference playoff chase. John Walls Washington Wizards, meanwhile, are headed the opposite way, losing four of their last five games to let teams behind them in the East inch closer. After letting a 25-point lead dwindle to three Wednesday night, Bledsoe and Dragic got back to business and combined to finish with 48 points, 13 assists and 13 rebounds in Phoenixs 99-93 victory over Washington. "Im glad," Dragic said, "that we didnt panic." The surprising Suns moved into a tie with the Dallas Mavericks for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Both clubs are 43-29 with 10 games remaining. "We dont care what other people think," Dragic said. "Before the season, they were saying were going to win 15 games." The Suns have won seven of their last eight, coinciding with Bledsoes return to the starting lineup after missing 33 games because of knee surgery. He had 23 points, seven assists and six rebounds, and Dragic wound up with 25 points, six assists and seven rebounds. "We were missing him those two months," Dragic said about his backcourt mate. "Now hes back and he looks good. Its much easier for me to play with him. He can handle the ball, I can handle the ball." Wizards centre Marcin Gortat, who used to play for the Suns, offered high praise for their pair of guards. "These guys are hungry. They bring it every night. They compete every night. They know what theyre playing for," Gortat said. "They have character, a lot of will to win the game." Gortat was not nearly as complimentary about his current teammates, who are sixth in the Eastern Conference but now are only 1 1/2 games ahead of No. 7 Charlotte, which beat Brooklyn 116-111 in overtime Wednesday. Gortat called Washingtons showing "embarrassing" and added: "Sometimes we show that mentally we are weak and just not competing. Thats it." Wall, who led Washington with 29 points and six assists, and coach Randy Wittman preferred to put the blame on poor defence that allowed Phoenix to shoot 50 per cent on 3-pointers for the game (14 of 28). Phoenix made 7 of 9 field-goal tries during a 17-4 run to open the second half. The Suns led by as much as 75-50 in the third quarter, but Washington kept chipping away at that, getting as close as 83-79 on Walls three-point play with a little more than 8 minutes remaining. But an 8-0 run by Phoenix that closed with Dragics 3-pointer followed by his reverse layup gave the Suns some breathing room. Washington again cut into the lead, though, and when Wall made consecutive driving layups, it was 93-90 with 1 1/2 minutes left. Sure enough, Dragic and Bledsoe again responded. Bledsoe hit a 3 off Dragics assist, and then Dragic fed Gerald Green, who was fouled and made two free throws. And that was pretty much that. Bledsoe called it "a sloppy win," but knows that his team is going to fare well when six players each make at least one 3-pointer, as happened Wednesday. "We live by the 3, die by the 3, most likely. Thats how it is," Bledsoe said. "When were making 3, its tough to beat us." Notes: Wizards G Bradley Beal missed the end of the first half and beginning of the second because he went to the locker room for treatment of a right hip pointer after a Suns player landed on him. Beal said he hopes to play Friday against visiting Indiana. ... The Suns had lost their previous three games against the Wizards, including at Phoenix in January. ... Wall reached 100 3-pointers for the season for the first time in his NBA career, and he joins Beal, Trevor Ariza and Martell Webster to give Washington a franchise-high four players with at least that many. LOS ANGELES -- Even Doc Rivers got weary of the two-week saga of his move to the Los Angeles Clippers. He thought the unusual deal was dead several times, and he insists he really didnt mind the prospect of returning to the Boston Celtics. "I felt like I was the only guy in all this that was in a win-win," Rivers said. The Clippers think theyve got plenty of winning in store after landing one of the NBAs most respected veteran coaches. The Clippers formally introduced Rivers at their training complex Wednesday after dealing a first-round pick to the Celtics. Rivers was simply grateful to end his self-described "strange ordeal" ever since the Celtics floated the possibility of moving the NBAs highest-paid coach to a talented team determined to replace Vinny Del Negro with a topflight leader. "The reason I wanted this when it was made available was because of what we have," said Rivers, who also will be the Clippers senior vice-president of basketball operations. "I clearly think this is an extremely talented basketball team. There were times last year they were the best team. I like the talent we have here." Rivers believes the Clippers have the ingredients to be a title contender, although unrestricted free agent Chris Paul is a major part of that recipe. Rivers arrival is widely expected to cinch a new deal for CP3 -- and Rivers believes their partnership will lead to chances for championships. "Were going for it, let there be no mistake," Clippers President Andy Roeser said. "Were going for it. We want to win, and we think Doc will help us get there." Rivers largely sat out the negotiations about his fate over the last two weeks, staying at his off-season home in Orlando while Celtics President Danny Ainge and the Clippers top brass hammered out details of the move. Rivers gave up on the deal multiple times, even discussing the Celtics roster for next season with Ainge on Sunday, convinced he would return for a 10th season in Boston. Rivers turned off his phone and watched his youngest son, Spencer, in an AAU game. When he turned it back on, he found out he might be on the move after all -- and a few hours later, the deal was done. With all of his formal clothes in Boston, Rivers couldnt even wear a suit when he headed out to the West Coast to accept his next coaching challenge. "Things always find their path," Rivers said. "This took a long and winding path, but it found a way. ... I didnt intend it to be this way. I didnt want it to be this way. Danny and I thought it was something we would explore, and it would be quick." But its finally over, and Rivers has started to consider what hell do with his new team, which won a franchise-record 56 games and its first Pacific Division title last season, only to lose to Memphis in the first round of the post-season.dddddddddddd Rivers is eager to improve the Clippers defence while maximizing the potential of Blake Griffin and Paul, whose return is the franchises top off-season priority. Paul and Griffin didnt attend the news conference, but backup big men Ronny Turiaf and Ryan Hollins showed up for a look at their new coach. Rivers said he had already spoken to most of his new players and most of the Celtics. "Very excited about the future with Coach Rivers and his staff," Griffin tweeted. "Cant wait to get to work. Thanks for all the support clipnation!" Rivers was understandably cagey about any conversations with Paul, who was widely thought to desire an established, veteran coach in Los Angeles. Roeser has been steadfastly confident the Clippers will hang on to CP3, and Rivers arrival only made him more optimistic. "I think were just going to have to wait until he makes his decision and signs his contract, but all the indications are that he likes Doc and respects him," Roeser said of Paul. Rivers was greeted in Playa Vista by a huge Hollywood media contingent, baffling a few longtime Clippers employees used to toiling in the glitzy Lakers shadow. With each passing month, the Clippers are stealing the spotlight from the 16-time champions who share their hallway at Staples Center. "I dont understand what the fuss is," Roeser said with a laugh. "Its not even the first time we gave up a first-round pick for Doc." Roeser referred to the 1991 trade that brought the veteran point guard to the Clippers for one season in 1991-92. Rivers wore Los Angeles No. 25 jersey that year -- the same number on the ceremonial jersey he held Wednesday to herald his return. Rivers front-office title means hell have a say in the Clippers personnel moves, but Rivers clearly indicated hes only one part of a decision-making team including Roeser and Gary Sacks, their vice-president of basketball operations. "I think titles dont mean that much," Roeser said. "What matters is were going to sit down together and find a way to make this team better." Roeser confirmed the Clippers wont be making any player transactions with Boston in the near future, but said the Clippers "will be active in the free-agent market." A reunion between Rivers and Kevin Garnett in Los Angeles remains unlikely after the NBA banned any potential trades including both men, but Rivers seems confident the Clippers already have enough talent to be even better. "Thats the only reason Im coaching, is to try to win titles," Rivers said. "Weve got to prove we can win a series first." ' ' '