GAME THREAD: NBA: PHOENIX (2-1) at CHARLOTTE (2-0)

NBA: PHOENIX (2-1) at CHARLOTTE (2-0)

<h3>Surprising Bobcats set to face Suns</h3>

<div class="pre">Phoenix (2-1) at Charlotte (2-0) 7:00 pm EST</div>

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) -- The Charlotte Bobcats aretwo games over .500 for the first time in franchise history.They will look to improve that record when they host thePhoenix Suns on Tuesday.


The Bobcats showed a willingness in the offseason to spend moneyto improve their team, and that philosophy is paying off in theearly going.


They lavished a six-year, $57 million extension on forwardGerald Wallace and traded for Jason Richardson, who immediatelybecame the highest-paid player on the team at over $11 millionper season.


Both moves have paid dividends in the early going, as Richardson<div class="pre">is leading the team in scoring at 2 points per game and has</div>connected on nine 3-pointers in the first two games. Wallacehas filled up the boxscores with 17.5 points, 8 rebounds and 4assists per game.


Emeka Okafor has made his presence felt on the inside forCharlotte, averaging 13.5 rebounds and 3.0 blocks.

The Suns appeared to find their offensive grove in the secondhalf of Sunday's 103-92 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.After totaling 38 points in the first half, Phoenix turned upthe offensive intensity in the second, scoring 65 points.

Phoenix played Sunday without All-Star Amare Stoudemire, who satwith soreness in his right knee. Stoudemire, who hadarthroscopic surgery on the knee during training camp, is listedas day-to-day.


Steve Nash stepped up in the absence of his teammate, finishingwith 30 points to go along with 10 assists.

 

NBA: PHOENIX at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">PHOENIX AT CHARLOTTE - PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS


PHOENIX CHARLOTTE

F Grant Hill F Gerald Wallace
F Shawn Marion F Emeka Okafor
C Boris Diaw C Primoz Brezec
G Raja Bell G Jason Richardson
G Steve Nash G Raymond Felton

OFFICIALS: Joe Derosa
Courtney Kirkland
John Gobel</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">PHOENIX VS CHARLOTTE - INACTIVES

PHOENIX CHARLOTTE

PLAYER NAME REASON PLAYER NAME REASON
E PIATKOWSKI COACH'S DECISION O HARRINGTON RIGHT KNEE INJURY
A STOUDEMIRE KNEE INJURY S MAY LEFT KNEE INJURY
A MORRISON INJURED ACL</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 9
CHARLOTTE 5 8:48 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 17
CHARLOTTE 10 5:57 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 24
CHARLOTTE 15 2:49 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 29
CHARLOTTE 21 END, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
PHOENIX 29 29
CHARLOTTE 21 21 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

PHO - GRANT HILL 9, STEVE NASH 6, RAJA BELL 6
CHA - JASON RICHARDSON 8, RAYMOND FELTON 5,
GERALD WALLACE 4</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 37
CHARLOTTE 23 8:44 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 41
CHARLOTTE 27 5:50 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 47
CHARLOTTE 31 2:49 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 59
CHARLOTTE 37 HALFTIME</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
PHOENIX 29 30 59
CHARLOTTE 21 16 37 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

PHO - LEANDRO BARBOSA 12, RAJA BELL 9, BORIS
DIAW 9
CHA - JASON RICHARDSON 11, GERALD WALLACE 8,
RAYMOND FELTON 7</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 66
CHARLOTTE 39 8:44 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 72
CHARLOTTE 41 5:43 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 86
CHARLOTTE 52 2:38 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 88
CHARLOTTE 61 END, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
PHOENIX 29 30 29 88
CHARLOTTE 21 16 24 61 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

PHO - SHAWN MARION 16, RAJA BELL 16, BORIS
DIAW 13
CHA - GERALD WALLACE 12, RAYMOND FELTON 12,
JASON RICHARDSON 11</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 92
CHARLOTTE 70 8:33 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 100
CHARLOTTE 74 5:32 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>