GAME THREAD: NBA: PHOENIX (17-6) at NEW ORLEANS (14-9)

NBA: PHOENIX at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 94
NEW ORLEANS 99 2:55 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 96
NEW ORLEANS 97 0:35 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
PHOENIX 26 20 34 18 98
NEW ORLEANS 31 28 21 21 101 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: PHO - LEANDRO BARBOSA 19, GRANT HILL 17, RAJA
BELL 17
NOR - MORRIS PETERSON 21, CHRIS PAUL 21, DAVID
WEST 15</div>

 

NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornetsshowed their resilience against the Phoenix Suns.


Paul had 21 points and 10 assists Saturday to lead the Hornetsto a 101-98 victory over the Suns, snapping their two-gamelosing streak.


All five starters for both teams scored in double figures.

Morris Peterson had 21 points, David West had 15 and 11 reboundsand Tyson Chandler posted 14 and 18 for New Orleans, whichsnapped a seven-game losing streak to Phoenix.


New Orleans built a 16-point first-half lead, lost it early inthe fourth quarter, then recaptured the momentum to knock offthe Suns, who entered the game with the NBA's third-best record.

Hilton Armstrong's three-point play with eight minutes remainingput the Hornets ahead to stay at 87-86.


Paul's basket at 6:02 made it 94-88, but Phoenix chipped awayand pulled within 99-98 on two free throws with 35 ticks leftand had a chance to tie after West was called for traveling with14 seconds left.


Phoenix got the ball to Shawn Marion, but his driving runnerfrom left to right with two seconds left didn't draw iron.

Leandro Barbosa scored 19 points and Amare Stoudemire added 17for Phoenix, which had won seven straight in the series.

The Hornets led, 31-26, after the first period. After Phoenixclosed within 41-39 on a jumper by Boris Diaw with 7:45 left inthe half, Peterson sparked an 18-4 run that provided New Orleansa 59-43 lead with 75 seconds left in the half.


Peterson knocked down two 3-pointers and a free throw during thespurt, Paul added a shot from the arc and a jumper, andChandler recorded two dunks and a layup.


New Orleans led, 59-46, at the half, but Phoenix drew even at90-90 after three periods with the help of 3-pointers. SteveNash, Marion and Raja Bell knocked down shots from the arc andBarbosa nailed two 3-pointers in the final 75 seconds.Stoudemire and Hill added three-point plays in the stanza.

 

NBA: PHOENIX at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NBA
PHOENIX 98
NEW ORLEANS 101 FINAL</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">PHOENIX (98) AT NEW ORLEANS (101)

PHOENIX

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

G HILL F 36:21 6-13 5-6 0 7 7 4 1 3 1 17
S MARION F 43:15 5-11 0-0 2 7 9 3 2 2 1 11
A STOUDEMIRE C 33:01 5-11 6-7 1 7 8 2 4 0 4 16
R BELL G 37:39 7-14 0-0 0 2 2 2 2 1 0 17
S NASH G 33:01 4-12 3-3 0 3 3 7 3 0 2 12
L BARBOSA 22:00 8-12 0-0 0 2 2 2 1 0 2 19
B DIAW 19:44 2-4 0-0 1 3 4 8 3 0 1 4
B SKINNER 14:59 1-3 0-0 1 5 6 0 4 0 0 2
E PIATKOWSKI DNP - COACH'S DECISION
M BANKS DNP - COACH'S DECISION
D STRAWBERRY DNP - COACH'S DECISION
S MARKS DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 38-80 14-16 5 36 41 28 20 6 11 98
(.475) (.875) TEAM REBS: 5 TOTAL TO: 11 (13 PTS)

NEW ORLEANS

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

R BUTLER F 35:37 4-7 0-0 0 5 5 1 2 0 1 12
D WEST F 41:39 6-16 3-3 3 8 11 3 3 1 5 15
T CHANDLER C 34:54 6-12 2-3 8 10 18 1 2 1 2 14
M PETERSON G 30:24 6-14 5-6 1 2 3 1 1 1 0 21
C PAUL G 38:11 8-20 2-2 0 2 2 10 0 2 1 21
B JACKSON 17:36 2-8 2-2 0 2 2 1 1 0 1 7
H ARMSTRONG 13:07 5-7 1-2 1 2 3 0 1 0 0 11
J WRIGHT 18:44 0-5 0-0 0 5 5 3 1 0 1 0
J PARGO 9:48 0-2 0-0 0 0 0 4 1 0 0 0
P STOJAKOVIC DNP - GROIN PULL
M ELY DNP - EYE INJURY
M VINICIUS DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 37-91 15-18 13 36 49 24 12 5 11 101
(.407) (.833) TEAM REBS: 6 TOTAL TO: 11 (14 PTS)

PHOENIX 26 20 34 18 - 98
NEW ORLEANS 31 28 21 21 - 101

BLOCKED SHOTS: PHOENIX - G HILL 2, B SKINNER 2, A STOUDEMIRE 2. NEW ORLEANS -
D WEST.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: PHOENIX 8-20 (.400), S MARION 1-3, R BELL 3-7, S NASH 1-
4, L BARBOSA 3-6. NEW ORLEANS 12-23 (.522), R BUTLER 4-6, M PETERSON 4-
6, C PAUL 3-6, B JACKSON 1-4, J PARGO 0-1.
TECHNICAL FOULS: NEW ORLEANS - C PAUL.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: JOE FORTE, LUIS GRILLO, ZACH ZARBA.
A - 13,705. T - 2:05.</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">PHOENIX (98)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
G Hill 36:21 6-13 5-6 0-7 4 1 17
S Marion 43:15 5-11 0-0 2-9 3 2 11
A Stoudemire 33:01 5-11 6-7 1-8 2 4 16
R Bell 37:39 7-14 0-0 0-2 2 2 17
S Nash 33:01 4-12 3-3 0-3 7 3 12
L Barbosa 22:00 8-12 0-0 0-2 2 1 19
B Diaw 19:44 2-4 0-0 1-4 8 3 4
B Skinner 14:59 1-3 0-0 1-6 0 4 2
E Piatkowski DNP - COACH'S DECISION
M Banks DNP - COACH'S DECISION
D Strawberry DNP - COACH'S DECISION
S Marks DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 38-80 14-16 5-41 28 20 98
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.475, FT-.875. 3-Point Goals:
8-20, .400 (S Marion 1-3, R Bell 3-7, S Nash
1-4, L Barbosa 3-6). Team Rebounds: 5.
Blocked Shots:6 (G Hill 2, B Skinner 2, A
Stoudemire 2). Turnovers:11 (A Stoudemire 4,
S Nash 2, L Barbosa 2, G Hill, S Marion, B
Diaw). Steals: 6 (G Hill 3, S Marion 2, R
Bell).


NEW ORLEANS (101)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
R Butler 35:37 4-7 0-0 0-5 1 2 12
D West 41:39 6-16 3-3 3-11 3 3 15
T Chandler 34:54 6-12 2-3 8-18 1 2 14
M Peterson 30:24 6-14 5-6 1-3 1 1 21
C Paul 38:11 8-20 2-2 0-2 10 0 21
B Jackson 17:36 2-8 2-2 0-2 1 1 7
H Armstrong 13:07 5-7 1-2 1-3 0 1 11
J Wright 18:44 0-5 0-0 0-5 3 1 0
J Pargo 9:48 0-2 0-0 0-0 4 1 0
P Stojakovic DNP - GROIN PULL
M Ely DNP - EYE INJURY
M Vinicius DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 37-91 15-18 13-49 24 12 101
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.407, FT-.833. 3-Point Goals:
12-23, .522 (R Butler 4-6, M Peterson 4-6, C
Paul 3-6, B Jackson 1-4, J Pargo 0-1). Team
Rebounds: 6. Blocked Shots:1 (D West).
Turnovers:11 (D West 5, T Chandler 2, B
Jackson, R Butler, C Paul, J Wright). Steals:
5 (C Paul 2, M Peterson, T Chandler, D West).

-------------------------------------------
PHOENIX 26 20 34 18 - 98
NEW ORLEANS 31 28 21 21 - 101
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: New Orleans - 1 (C Paul,
4:39 3rd).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 13,705. T: 2:05.
Officials: Joe Forte, Luis Grillo, Zach Zarba.</div>

 

NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornetsshowed their resilience against the Phoenix Suns.


Paul had 21 points and 10 assists Saturday to lead the Hornetsto a 101-98 victory over the Suns, snapping their two-gamelosing streak.


Morris Peterson had 21 points, David West had 15 and 11 reboundsand Tyson Chandler posted 14 and 18 for New Orleans, whichsnapped a seven-game losing streak to Phoenix.


"This was another good win in an especially tough conference,"Paul said. "Last year, we were 0-11 or 0-12 against Dallas,Phoenix and San Antonio. This year, we've turned that aroundwith a win against Dallas and a win against Phoenix."

New Orleans built a 16-point first-half lead, lost it early inthe fourth quarter, then recaptured the momentum to knock offthe Suns, who entered the game with the NBA's third-best record.

"When you beat a very good team like Phoenix, that makes it alittle more special," Hornets coach Byron Scott said. "Now, wego on the road for two games and see if we can build on it."

Paul's 3-pointer with 7:22 remaining put the Hornets ahead tostay at 90-88. His basket at 6:02 made it 94-88, but Phoenixchipped away and pulled within 99-98 on Amare Stoudemire's twofree throws with 35 ticks left and had a chance to win afterWest was called for traveling with 14 seconds left.

Phoenix got the ball to Shawn Marion, but his driving runnerfrom left to right with two seconds left didn't draw iron.

"That's a shot I hit on a regular basis," Marion said. "I feltlike it could've gone in."


After the Hornets' Rasual Butler grabbed the rebound, Paul madetwo free throws with two-tenths of a second remaining to closethe scoring. Steve Nash missed a desperation 3-pointer as thefinal horn sounded.


Leandro Barbosa scored 19 points and Stoudemire and Grant Hilladded 17 apiece for Phoenix.


The Hornets led, 31-26, after the first period. After Phoenixclosed within 41-39 on a jumper by Boris Diaw with 7:45 left inthe half, Peterson sparked an 18-4 run that provided New Orleansa 59-43 lead with 75 seconds left in the half.


"We had some chances to put Phoenix away late but couldn't,"Paul said. "I was worried because when you give a good teamthat many opportunities, they're bound to take advantage.(Marion's airball) was huge."


Peterson knocked down two 3-pointers and a free throw during thespurt, Paul added a shot from the arc and a jumper, andChandler recorded two dunks and a layup.


New Orleans led, 59-46, at the half, but Phoenix drew even at80-80 after three periods with the help of 3-pointers. Nash,Marion and Raja Bell knocked down shots from the arc and Barbosanailed two 3-pointers in the final 75 seconds. Stoudemire andHill added three-point plays in the stanza.


But after going 5-of-7 from 3-point range in the third quarter,the Suns were 0-of-5 in the final period.


Phoenix has lost three of its last four games. The Suns enteredthe game with an NBA-best 110.0 points per game but were held12 points below their average. The Hornets limited Nash, whoentered with a league-leading 12.3 assists per game, to sevenassists.


"We lost this game by not coming out real sharp," Phoenix coachMike D'Antoni said. "We've got to find some grit which we don'thave right now. We're searching for it. New Orleans won thatgame just by playing hard."

 

NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornetsshowed their resilience against the Phoenix Suns.


Paul had 21 points and 10 assists Saturday to lead the Hornetsto a 101-98 victory over the Suns, snapping their two-gamelosing streak.


Morris Peterson had 21 points, David West had 15 and 11 reboundsand Tyson Chandler posted 14 and 18 for New Orleans, whichsnapped a seven-game losing streak to Phoenix.


"This was another good win in an especially tough conference,"Paul said. "Last year, we were 0-11 or 0-12 against Dallas,Phoenix and San Antonio. This year, we've turned that aroundwith a win against Dallas and a win against Phoenix."

New Orleans built a 16-point first-half lead, lost it early inthe fourth quarter, then recaptured the momentum to knock offthe Suns, who entered the game with the NBA's third-best record.

"When you beat a very good team like Phoenix, that makes it alittle more special," Hornets coach Byron Scott said. "Now, wego on the road for two games and see if we can build on it."

Paul's 3-pointer with 7:22 remaining put the Hornets ahead tostay at 90-88. His basket at 6:02 made it 94-88, but Phoenixchipped away and pulled within 99-98 on Amare Stoudemire's twofree throws with 35 ticks left and had a chance to win afterWest was called for traveling with 14 seconds left.

Phoenix got the ball to Shawn Marion, but his driving runnerfrom left to right with two seconds left didn't draw iron.

"That's a shot I hit on a regular basis," Marion said. "I feltlike it could've gone in."


After the Hornets' Rasual Butler grabbed the rebound, Paul madetwo free throws with two-tenths of a second remaining to closethe scoring. Steve Nash missed a desperation 3-pointer as thefinal horn sounded.


Leandro Barbosa scored 19 points and Stoudemire and Grant Hilladded 17 apiece for Phoenix.


The Hornets led, 31-26, after the first period. After Phoenixclosed within 41-39 on a jumper by Boris Diaw with 7:45 left inthe half, Peterson sparked an 18-4 run that provided New Orleansa 59-43 lead with 75 seconds left in the half.


"We had some chances to put Phoenix away late but couldn't,"Paul said. "I was worried because when you give a good teamthat many opportunities, they're bound to take advantage.(Marion's airball) was huge."


Peterson knocked down two 3-pointers and a free throw during thespurt, Paul added a shot from the arc and a jumper, andChandler recorded two dunks and a layup.


New Orleans led, 59-46, at the half, but Phoenix drew even at80-80 after three periods with the help of 3-pointers. Nash,Marion and Raja Bell knocked down shots from the arc and Barbosanailed two 3-pointers in the final 75 seconds. Stoudemire andHill added three-point plays in the stanza.


But after going 5-of-7 from 3-point range in the third quarter,the Suns were 0-of-5 in the final period.


Phoenix has lost three of its last four games. The Suns enteredthe game with an NBA-best 110.0 points per game but were held12 points below their average. The Hornets limited Nash, whoentered with a league-leading 12.3 assists per game, to sevenassists.


"We lost this game by not coming out real sharp," Phoenix coachMike D'Antoni said. "We've got to find some grit which we don'thave right now. We're searching for it. New Orleans won thatgame just by playing hard."