The Associated Press

DEERFIELD, Ill. - Scottie Pippen is contemplating retirement because of recurring knee problems that have kept him out of seven games.

Pippen is expected to miss his ninth game - and fourth in a row - when the Chicago Bulls travel to Milwaukee today.

"I question myself whether or not I can play another year. Or this year," Pippen said Wednesday after the Bulls practiced. "I just have to wait and see."

The 38-year-old Pippen missed 17 games last season after having surgery on his left knee.

"Whatever determination (the Bulls) come to is fine," Bulls coach Scott Skiles said. "I'd love to have him, but I've been an older player myself and understand there's nothing worse than being hurt all the time. It just gets to the point where, mentally, it's such a drag."

Celtics 126, SuperSonics 112

BOSTON - Paul Pierce scored 36 points and grabbed 13 rebounds while Mike James added a career-high 24 points to lead Boston to its third straight victory.

The 126 points were a season high for Boston.

Seattle trailed 99-68 to start the fourth quarter but went on a 25-4 run to pull to 103-93 with six minutes remaining. Pierce, who had been on the bench for 10 minutes, was forced to return and immediately hit two jump shots to increase the lead to 107-93.

Magic 95, Wizards 91

WASHINGTON - Orlando got 27 points from Tracy McGrady and a season-high 17 from Shammond Williams en route to its second straight win.

Williams made three 3-pointers and hit two clinching free throws with 8.1 seconds left for Orlando, which snapped an eight-game road losing streak.

Larry Hughes had 19 and Kwame Brown added 18 for Washington.

SUNS: Frank Johnson was fired as coach of the Phoenix Suns Wednesday after an 8-13 start.

The Suns promoted assistant Mike D'Antoni, who was coach of the Denver Nuggets in the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season and had a 14-36 record. He joined the Suns as an assistant last season

TRAIL BLAZERS: Coach Maurice Cheeks was fined $7,500 by the NBA for verbally abusing officials and failing to leave the court in a timely manner after his ejection against Memphis.