Nash, Amare lead Suns to rout of Pacers
(AP)Updated: 2007-03-03 14:10
PHOENIX - Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire scored 23 points apiece and the Phoenix Suns easily overcame the absence of Shawn Marion to beat the Indiana Pacers for the second time in four days, 115-90 on Friday night.
 Phoenix Suns forward Amare Stoudemire holds his arms out while questioning a foul call against him while playing the Indiana Pacers in the third quarter of a basketball game Friday, March 2, 2007, in Phoenix. [AP]  |
Seven Suns scored in double figures.
Eric Piatkowski, who had played only 7 minutes all season for Phoenix, was on the court for 22, scoring 11 points, including 3-of-8 on 3s. Pat Burke added 10 points for the Suns, all in the second half. Kurt Thomas had a season-high 15 rebounds.
Danny Granger scored 20 for the Pacers, who matched their longest losing streak of the season at four games. All four have been by double digits, the last two to Phoenix.
Jermaine O'Neal, hampered by foul trouble, scored 16, but only two in the second half. Marquis Daniels also scored 16 for the Pacers, who shot 39 percent from the field to the Suns' 53 percent.
Phoenix, playing without Marion for the second straight game because of a bruised right hand, rebounded from its loss Wednesday night in Philadelphia to sweep the season series from Indiana for the second year in a row. The Suns also improved to 24-4 against Eastern Conference foes.
Marion was injured Tuesday night in the Suns' 103-92 victory at Indiana. Phoenix had to rally from 18 down to win that one, but took control for good this time with a 20-9 run to end the first half.
Stoudemire scored 17, Nash 14 and Bell 10 to help the Suns lead 62-49 at the break. Stoudemire was 9-for-10 from the foul line, and Nash 6-for-8 from the field in the first half.
O'Neal scored 14 before going to the bench with his third foul with 2:45 to play in the half.
Indiana cut the lead to eight twice in the third quarter, the last at 78-70 on Daniels' 17-footer with 3:29 to play. The Suns, though, ended the quarter with a 12-4 run. Burke scored seven in the spurt, including a 3-pointer. Barbosa made a pair of slick passes for assists and made a 13-footer during the run.
The Suns, opening a five-game homestand, led by as many as 28 in the fourth quarter.
Notes:@ The Suns' Boris Diaw missed his eighth game with back spasms. ... O'Neal drew a technical foul with 6:09 to play in the first half. Nash made the free throw, then added a 3-pointer on the change of possession to put Phoenix up 46-40. ... It's the first time a team has won four in a row in the Pacers-Suns series since 1976-77. ... Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said Marion might play Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers.
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