GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: PHOENIX (3-2) at MIAMI (0-4)

NBA: PHOENIX (3-2) at MIAMI (0-4)

<h3>Stoudemire expected to make return vs. struggling Heat</h3>

<div class="pre">Phoenix (3-2) at Miami (0-4) 7:30 pm EST</div>

MIAMI (Ticker) -- With All-Star center Amare Stoudemire expectedto make his return to the Phoenix Suns after a three-gameabsence, things may have just gotten a bit tougher for theoffensively-challenged Miami Heat.


Stoudemire and the Suns head to American Airlines Arena onFriday to meet the winless Heat.


A two-time All-Star, Stoudemire had arthroscopic surgery onOctober 2 on his right knee. While he was able to recover intime to post 23 points and 11 rebounds in Phoenix's seasonopener, he was limited to 24 minutes the next night and has notplayed since.


The Suns have fared fairly well despite the absence of theirstar center even though they did suffered a 105-96 setback atthe Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday. Two-time MVP Steve Nash isaveraging 22.2 points and 8.8 assists while also hitting 55percent of his 3-point attempts so far.


Phoenix has won four straight games against Miami, sweeping thelast two season series.


The Heat, on the other hand, have not played well at all whileleading scorer Dwyane Wade has been sidelined. Still recoveringfrom offseason shoulder and knee surgeries, the three-timeAll-Star has yet to play this season.


With Wade out, Miami has shot just 42 percent from the field andhas not received nearly enough production from center ShaquilleO'Neal, who is averaging 12.8 points per game this season -half of his career average of 25.9.


The absence of Wade and the struggles of O'Neal have contributedto Miami's league-worst team scoring average of 82.8 points pergame.

 

NBA: PHOENIX at MIAMI

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


PHOENIX MIAMI

F Grant Hill F Penny Hardaway
F Shawn Marion F Udonis Haslem
C Amare Stoudemire C Shaquille O'Neal
G Raja Bell G Ricky Davis
G Steve Nash G Jason Williams

OFFICIALS: Mark Wunderlich
Marc Davis
Ed Malloy</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at MIAMI

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

PHOENIX MIAMI

PLAYER NAME REASON PLAYER NAME REASON
A TUCKER COACH'S DECISION E BARRON COACH'S DECISION
D WADE SHOULDER
A JOHNSON COACH'S DECISION</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 10
MIAMI 6 8:55 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 17
MIAMI 19 5:45 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 21
MIAMI 25 3:06 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 29
MIAMI 37 END, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
PHOENIX 29 29
MIAMI 37 37 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

PHO - STEVE NASH 6, SHAWN MARION 6, LEANDRO
BARBOSA 5
MIA - JASON WILLIAMS 11, RICKY DAVIS 9, UDONIS
HASLEM 8</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 36
MIAMI 44 8:38 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 38
MIAMI 50 5:59 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 51
MIAMI 54 2:47 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 55
MIAMI 60 HALFTIME</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
PHOENIX 29 26 55
MIAMI 37 23 60 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

PHO - LEANDRO BARBOSA 16, STEVE NASH 11, SHAWN
MARION 9
MIA - SHAQUILLE O'NEAL 15, JASON WILLIAMS 13,
UDONIS HASLEM 12</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 65
MIAMI 68 9:00 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 70
MIAMI 74 5:58 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 73
MIAMI 80 2:58 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 79
MIAMI 84 END, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
PHOENIX 29 26 24 79
MIAMI 37 23 24 84 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

PHO - LEANDRO BARBOSA 17, STEVE NASH 16, SHAWN
MARION 13
MIA - JASON WILLIAMS 21, SHAQUILLE O'NEAL 20,
UDONIS HASLEM 18</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 81
MIAMI 86 9:06 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 91
MIAMI 93 5:58 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>