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Stoudemire leads Suns past Clippers

Saturday, January 03, 2009

PHOENIX -- Amare Stoudemire scored 23 points and the Phoenix Suns extended their winning streak to three and dealt the short-handed Los Angeles Clippers their sixth consecutive loss, winning 106-98 Friday night.

The victory pulled the Suns (19-12) seven games over .500 for the first time this season. They're 9-3 in their last 12 games, with the three losses by a total of only 11 points, and have scored 100 or more points in 10 of their last 11 games. After a miserable first half, Shaquille O'Neal hit six straight shots in the second half and finished with 17 points for Phoenix. Jason Richardson scored 15 points, Grant Hill 13, Leandro Barbosa 12 and Steve Nash nine points and 11 assists.

Marcus Camby was outstanding for Los Angeles with 19 points and 23 rebounds. Rookie Eric Gordon scored 21 points, Fred Jones had 16 and Al Thornton 15.

The Clippers dressed only 10 players. Los Angeles began the game without forward Zach Randolph (sore left knee), guards Baron Davis (bruised tailbone) and Mike Taylor (fractured right thumb), center Chris Kaman (strained left arch) and swingman Ricky Davis (sore left knee). They then lost guard Jason Hart in the first period with right elbow tendinitis.

Spurred by runs of 12-0 and 14-4 in the first period, the Suns raced to a 33-15 lead after one quarter, and still led 62-49 at halftime despite a 34-point second quarter by the Clippers and O'Neal's failure to make any of his six field goal attempts.

Stoudemire, who was plagued by foul problems in his previous two games, paved the way for the Suns' early success, scoring 16 points by the half, including a thunderous left-handed jam and a powerful slam to end the first period.

Richardson chipped in with 11 points, Hill had 10 and Nash had nine points and seven assists.

Camby already had a double-double -- his 16th of the season -- by intermission with 10 points and 13 rebounds. including eight off the offensive boards. Camby's tenacious play kept the downtrodden Clippers (8-24) in the game and helped Los Angeles outrebound the Suns 29-18 by halftime.

The teams played at virtually even terms in the third period when O'Neal finally got untracked and made all three of his field goal shots. Camby continued to shine for the Clippers, adding seven points and five rebounds. By the end of the quarter, Phoenix led 83-72.

The Suns increased their advantage to 20 points --103-83 -- their biggest of the game late in the fourth quarter, then a late Clippers rally fell short. Notes: Nash made two free throws and now has converted 29 in a row. ... Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy, who had incurred technical fouls in the previous three games, stayed free of any technicals this time. ... Stoudemire is the only player in the league to be ejected twice this season after being assessed two technicals in a game. ... The Suns' Matt Barnes was ejected after receiving his second technical foul in the fourth period. ...The Clippers have not shot 50 percent from the field this season in 32 games; last season they hit the 50 percent mark for the first time in their 32nd game. ... Los Angeles' 15 first-period points were a season-low for a Phoenix opponent.

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