GAME THREAD: NBA: PHOENIX (7-2) at HOUSTON (6-4)

NBA: PHOENIX at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
PHOENIX 37 32 25 94
HOUSTON 30 27 19 76 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

PHO - LEANDRO BARBOSA 21, SHAWN MARION 17,
GRANT HILL 16
HOU - MIKE JAMES 17, LUIS SCOLA 14, YAO MING
12</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 94
HOUSTON 83 8:59 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 100
HOUSTON 87 5:53 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 110
HOUSTON 97 2:38 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 115
HOUSTON 105 FINAL</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
PHOENIX 37 32 25 21 115
HOUSTON 30 27 19 29 105 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: PHO - AMARE STOUDEMIRE 21, LEANDRO BARBOSA 21,
STEVE NASH 19
HOU - LUIS SCOLA 20, MIKE JAMES 17, LUTHER
HEAD 16</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NBA
PHOENIX 115
HOUSTON 105 FINAL</div>

 

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Amare Stoudemire and Leandro Barbosa paceda balanced attack for the Phoenix Suns in a 115-105 victory overthe Houston Rockets on Saturday night.


Stoudemire and Barbosa each scored 21 points and all fivePhoenix starters scored at least 18.


Phoenix, which has won all eight times this season when scoringat least 100 points, got off to a fast start but Houston centerYao Ming did not. That was not a good combination for theRockets, who were again without superstar Tracy McGrady.

McGrady sprained his right elbow in Wednesday's 93-90 loss tothe Los Angeles Lakers. He missed Friday's 90-84 loss at SanAntonio and was out again Saturday.


Steve Nash scored 19 points and handed out 15 assists. GrantHill and Shawn Marion each added 18 points for Phoenix.

The Suns entered the game averaging 106.1 points and they tookcontrol right out of the gate, racing to a 37-28 lead after thefirst quarter. Phoenix kept it going in the second and openedup a 69-57 edge at the half.


Barbosa had 15 points at the break and Hill added 14, including10 in the first quarter, and Nash added 12 with six assists.Phoenix used some hot shooting to open things up in the firsthalf as it shot 73 percent (27-of-37) from the field, including6-of-12 from the arc.


While the Suns were sizzling, Yao was struggling. He had justone point and missed all six of his shots in the first half. Hefinished with 12 points but was just 4-of-17 from the field.

Luis Scola had 20 points and 11 rebounds off the bench for theRockets, who have lost four straight.

 

NBA: PHOENIX at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">PHOENIX (115) AT HOUSTON (105)

PHOENIX

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

G HILL F 43:24 8-14 2-3 0 2 2 4 3 2 0 18
S MARION F 42:23 6-13 6-10 1 10 11 1 3 1 3 18
A STOUDEMIRE C 28:20 8-8 5-6 0 13 13 1 5 1 7 21
L BARBOSA G 41:08 8-13 1-3 0 5 5 4 5 1 6 21
S NASH G 36:24 6-11 4-4 1 2 3 15 2 1 5 19
B DIAW 26:52 3-4 1-2 0 6 6 3 3 0 2 8
B SKINNER 14:50 2-3 0-1 2 6 8 0 2 0 1 4
E PIATKOWSKI 6:39 2-3 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 6
M BANKS DNP - COACH'S DECISION
A TUCKER DNP - COACH'S DECISION
D STRAWBERRY DNP - COACH'S DECISION
S MARKS DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 43-69 19-29 4 44 48 28 23 6 25 115
(.623) (.655) TEAM REBS: 8 TOTAL TO: 25 (23 PTS)

HOUSTON

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

S BATTIER F 30:56 4-8 0-0 2 5 7 1 4 3 1 10
C HAYES F 17:03 1-5 0-0 1 1 2 1 0 0 0 2
Y MING C 22:43 4-17 4-6 1 5 6 2 3 0 3 12
M JAMES G 24:56 6-12 3-4 1 2 3 2 2 0 2 17
R ALSTON G 24:56 3-8 1-2 2 1 3 4 2 1 0 7
L SCOLA 37:36 10-19 0-0 3 8 11 4 4 1 0 20
B WELLS 16:48 0-6 0-2 3 2 5 2 2 0 2 0
S FRANCIS 23:04 3-11 2-2 1 0 1 2 3 1 0 8
L HEAD 24:05 6-11 0-0 1 0 1 1 0 2 0 16
K SNYDER 14:50 3-8 2-4 1 0 1 3 1 0 1 8
A BROOKS 3:03 2-2 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
D MUTOMBO DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 42-107 12-20 16 24 40 22 21 8 9 105
(.393) (.600) TEAM REBS: 13 TOTAL TO: 9 (7 PTS)

PHOENIX 37 32 25 21 - 115
HOUSTON 30 27 19 29 - 105

BLOCKED SHOTS: PHOENIX - S MARION 4, B SKINNER 2, A STOUDEMIRE 2, L BARBOSA 2.
HOUSTON - NONE.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: PHOENIX 10-19 (.526), G HILL 0-2, S MARION 0-4,
L BARBOSA 4-6, S NASH 3-3, B DIAW 1-1, E PIATKOWSKI 2-3. HOUSTON 9-
21 (.429), S BATTIER 2-3, M JAMES 2-3, R ALSTON 0-1, S FRANCIS 0-2,
L HEAD 4-7, K SNYDER 0-4, A BROOKS 1-1.
TECHNICAL FOULS: PHOENIX - G HILL, S MARION.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: BOB DELANEY, LUIS GRILLO, ORLANDIS POOLE.
A - 18,265. T - 2:12.</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">PHOENIX (115)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
G Hill 43:24 8-14 2-3 0-2 4 3 18
S Marion 42:23 6-13 6-10 1-11 1 3 18
A Stoudemire 28:20 8-8 5-6 0-13 1 5 21
L Barbosa 41:08 8-13 1-3 0-5 4 5 21
S Nash 36:24 6-11 4-4 1-3 15 2 19
B Diaw 26:52 3-4 1-2 0-6 3 3 8
B Skinner 14:50 2-3 0-1 2-8 0 2 4
E Piatkowski 6:39 2-3 0-0 0-0 0 0 6
M Banks DNP - COACH'S DECISION
A Tucker DNP - COACH'S DECISION
D Strawberry DNP - COACH'S DECISION
S Marks DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 43-69 19-29 4-48 28 23 115
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.623, FT-.655. 3-Point Goals:
10-19, .526 (G Hill 0-2, S Marion 0-4, L
Barbosa 4-6, S Nash 3-3, B Diaw 1-1, E
Piatkowski 2-3). Team Rebounds: 8. Blocked
Shots:10 (S Marion 4, B Skinner 2, A
Stoudemire 2, L Barbosa 2). Turnovers:25 (A
Stoudemire 7, L Barbosa 6, S Nash 5, S Marion
3, B Diaw 2, E Piatkowski, B Skinner).
Steals: 6 (G Hill 2, S Nash, S Marion, A
Stoudemire, L Barbosa).


HOUSTON (105)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
S Battier 30:56 4-8 0-0 2-7 1 4 10
C Hayes 17:03 1-5 0-0 1-2 1 0 2
Y Ming 22:43 4-17 4-6 1-6 2 3 12
M James 24:56 6-12 3-4 1-3 2 2 17
R Alston 24:56 3-8 1-2 2-3 4 2 7
L Scola 37:36 10-19 0-0 3-11 4 4 20
B Wells 16:48 0-6 0-2 3-5 2 2 0
S Francis 23:04 3-11 2-2 1-1 2 3 8
L Head 24:05 6-11 0-0 1-1 1 0 16
K Snyder 14:50 3-8 2-4 1-1 3 1 8
A Brooks 3:03 2-2 0-0 0-0 0 0 5
D Mutombo DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 42-10 12-20 16-40 22 21 105
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.393, FT-.600. 3-Point Goals:
9-21, .429 (S Battier 2-3, M James 2-3, R
Alston 0-1, S Francis 0-2, L Head 4-7, K
Snyder 0-4, A Brooks 1-1). Team Rebounds: 13.
Blocked Shots: 0. Turnovers:9 (Y Ming 3, B
Wells 2, M James 2, S Battier, K Snyder).
Steals: 8 (S Battier 3, L Head 2, S Francis,
L Scola, R Alston).

--------------------------------------------
PHOENIX 37 32 25 21 - 115
HOUSTON 30 27 19 29 - 105
--------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Phoenix - 2 (G Hill, 11:19
2nd; S Marion, 4:47 3rd).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 18,265. T: 2:12.
Officials: Bob Delaney, Luis Grillo, Orlandis
Poole.</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">PHOENIX (115) AT HOUSTON (105)

PHOENIX

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

G HILL F 43:24 8-14 2-3 0 2 2 4 3 2 0 18
S MARION F 42:23 6-13 6-10 1 10 11 1 3 1 3 18
A STOUDEMIRE C 28:20 8-8 5-6 0 13 13 1 5 1 7 21
L BARBOSA G 41:08 8-13 1-3 0 5 5 4 5 1 6 21
S NASH G 36:24 6-11 4-4 1 2 3 15 2 1 5 19
B DIAW 26:52 3-4 1-2 0 6 6 3 3 0 2 8
B SKINNER 14:50 2-3 0-1 2 6 8 0 2 0 1 4
E PIATKOWSKI 6:39 2-3 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 6
M BANKS DNP - COACH'S DECISION
A TUCKER DNP - COACH'S DECISION
D STRAWBERRY DNP - COACH'S DECISION
S MARKS DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 43-69 19-29 4 44 48 28 23 6 25 115
(.623) (.655) TEAM REBS: 8 TOTAL TO: 25 (23 PTS)

HOUSTON

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

S BATTIER F 30:56 4-8 0-0 2 5 7 1 4 3 1 10
C HAYES F 17:03 1-5 0-0 1 1 2 1 0 0 0 2
Y MING C 22:43 4-17 4-6 1 5 6 2 3 0 3 12
M JAMES G 24:56 6-12 3-4 1 2 3 2 2 0 2 17
R ALSTON G 24:56 3-8 1-2 2 1 3 4 2 1 0 7
L SCOLA 37:36 10-19 0-0 3 8 11 4 4 1 0 20
B WELLS 16:48 0-6 0-2 3 2 5 2 2 0 2 0
S FRANCIS 23:04 3-11 2-2 1 0 1 2 3 1 0 8
L HEAD 24:05 6-11 0-0 1 0 1 1 0 2 0 16
K SNYDER 14:50 3-8 2-4 1 0 1 3 1 0 1 8
A BROOKS 3:03 2-2 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
D MUTOMBO DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 42-107 12-20 16 24 40 22 21 8 9 105
(.393) (.600) TEAM REBS: 13 TOTAL TO: 9 (7 PTS)

PHOENIX 37 32 25 21 - 115
HOUSTON 30 27 19 29 - 105

BLOCKED SHOTS: PHOENIX - S MARION 4, B SKINNER 2, A STOUDEMIRE 2, L BARBOSA 2.
HOUSTON - NONE.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: PHOENIX 10-19 (.526), G HILL 0-2, S MARION 0-4,
L BARBOSA 4-6, S NASH 3-3, B DIAW 1-1, E PIATKOWSKI 2-3. HOUSTON 9-
21 (.429), S BATTIER 2-3, M JAMES 2-3, R ALSTON 0-1, S FRANCIS 0-2,
L HEAD 4-7, K SNYDER 0-4, A BROOKS 1-1.
TECHNICAL FOULS: PHOENIX - DEFENSIVE THREE 2.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: BOB DELANEY, LUIS GRILLO, ORLANDIS POOLE.
A - 18,265. T - 2:12.</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">PHOENIX (115)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
G Hill 43:24 8-14 2-3 0-2 4 3 18
S Marion 42:23 6-13 6-10 1-11 1 3 18
A Stoudemire 28:20 8-8 5-6 0-13 1 5 21
L Barbosa 41:08 8-13 1-3 0-5 4 5 21
S Nash 36:24 6-11 4-4 1-3 15 2 19
B Diaw 26:52 3-4 1-2 0-6 3 3 8
B Skinner 14:50 2-3 0-1 2-8 0 2 4
E Piatkowski 6:39 2-3 0-0 0-0 0 0 6
M Banks DNP - COACH'S DECISION
A Tucker DNP - COACH'S DECISION
D Strawberry DNP - COACH'S DECISION
S Marks DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 43-69 19-29 4-48 28 23 115
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.623, FT-.655. 3-Point Goals:
10-19, .526 (G Hill 0-2, S Marion 0-4, L
Barbosa 4-6, S Nash 3-3, B Diaw 1-1, E
Piatkowski 2-3). Team Rebounds: 8. Blocked
Shots:10 (S Marion 4, B Skinner 2, A
Stoudemire 2, L Barbosa 2). Turnovers:25 (A
Stoudemire 7, L Barbosa 6, S Nash 5, S Marion
3, B Diaw 2, E Piatkowski, B Skinner).
Steals: 6 (G Hill 2, S Nash, S Marion, A
Stoudemire, L Barbosa).


HOUSTON (105)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
S Battier 30:56 4-8 0-0 2-7 1 4 10
C Hayes 17:03 1-5 0-0 1-2 1 0 2
Y Ming 22:43 4-17 4-6 1-6 2 3 12
M James 24:56 6-12 3-4 1-3 2 2 17
R Alston 24:56 3-8 1-2 2-3 4 2 7
L Scola 37:36 10-19 0-0 3-11 4 4 20
B Wells 16:48 0-6 0-2 3-5 2 2 0
S Francis 23:04 3-11 2-2 1-1 2 3 8
L Head 24:05 6-11 0-0 1-1 1 0 16
K Snyder 14:50 3-8 2-4 1-1 3 1 8
A Brooks 3:03 2-2 0-0 0-0 0 0 5
D Mutombo DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 42-10 12-20 16-40 22 21 105
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.393, FT-.600. 3-Point Goals:
9-21, .429 (S Battier 2-3, M James 2-3, R
Alston 0-1, S Francis 0-2, L Head 4-7, K
Snyder 0-4, A Brooks 1-1). Team Rebounds: 13.
Blocked Shots: 0. Turnovers:9 (Y Ming 3, B
Wells 2, M James 2, S Battier, K Snyder).
Steals: 8 (S Battier 3, L Head 2, S Francis,
L Scola, R Alston).

--------------------------------------------
PHOENIX 37 32 25 21 - 115
HOUSTON 30 27 19 29 - 105
--------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Phoenix - 2 (Defensive
Three, 11:19 2nd; Defensive Three, 4:47 3rd).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 18,265. T: 2:12.
Officials: Bob Delaney, Luis Grillo, Orlandis
Poole.</div>

 

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Amare Stoudemire and Leandro Barbosa paceda balanced attack for the Phoenix Suns in a 115-105 victory overthe Houston Rockets on Saturday night.


Stoudemire and Barbosa each scored 21 points and all fivePhoenix starters scored at least 18.


Phoenix, which has won all eight times this season when scoringat least 100 points, got off to a fast start but Houston centerYao Ming did not. That was not a good combination for theRockets, who were again without superstar Tracy McGrady.

"We played great team defense and frustrated Yao offensively,"Stoudemire said. "We have a chance to be a great defensive team,and we're working very hard on it. This is a sign of what wecan do."


McGrady sprained his right elbow in Wednesday's 93-90 loss tothe Los Angeles Lakers. He missed Friday's 90-84 loss at SanAntonio and was out again Saturday.


Steve Nash scored 19 points and handed out 15 assists. GrantHill and Shawn Marion each added 18 points for Phoenix.

"It was a good game other than our turnovers," Nash said. "Wedon't have quite the same flow (as last season), but we areplaying well. We did a good job and held the lead with whoeverwe had out there."


The Suns entered the game averaging 106.1 points and they tookcontrol right out of the gate, racing to a 37-28 lead after thefirst quarter. Phoenix kept it going in the second and openedup a 69-57 edge at the half.


Barbosa had 15 points at the break and Hill added 14, including10 in the first quarter, and Nash added 12 with six assists.Phoenix used some hot shooting to open things up in the firsthalf as it shot 73 percent (27-of-37) from the field, including6-of-12 from the arc.


"We shot the ball well," Hill said. "We were due for a game likethis. It is very hard to defend this offense. That's the firstwin I have ever had in Houston, check the stats. That's forreal."


While the Suns were sizzling, Yao was struggling. He had justone point and missed all six of his shots in the first half. Hefinished with 12 points but was just 4-of-17 from the field.

"In the first half, they were shooting 70 or 80 percent," Yaosaid. "They would make a coast-to-coast pass without evenrunning. They don't play 100 percent, they play 140 percent onoffense."


Rockets coach Rick Adelman didn't use a hectic schedule toaccount for his team's woes.


"It was our fourth game in five nights, and I understand thatguys were tired," Adelman said. "I don't care about the scheduleor anything. It's been tough, but that's life in the NBA. Youhave to figure out a way to battle through that.


"Scola had two great games in a row, and Mike James got goingtonight, but we've got to be realistic, too. We just didn't doenough."


Scola had 20 points and 11 rebounds off the bench for theRockets, who have lost four straight.


"We played hard against San Antonio and Phoenix, and those arevery good teams that are trying to win a championship," Scolasaid. "We're not going to make any excuses. We need to get backto work and keep playing."


Suns coach Mike D'Antoni couldn't find much fault in his team'sperformance.


"I didn't realize we shot 73 percent. I knew we took good shotsand made a lot of them," he said. "We we were sloppy (25turnovers), but other than that, I don't have any complaints.

"I can live with anything when we we win. Everybody wasclicking, and when that happens, that's when we're at our best."