Amare Stoudemire scored 28 points to earn the Phoenix Suns a
116-92 victory over the New Jersey Nets on Sunday, their fifth
successive home win.
The loss was the 14th successive for New Jersey in Arizona. The
Nets have not won in Phoenix since 1993.
All five Phoenix starters finished in double figures with Shawn
Marion collecting 16 points and 11 rebounds to go with five steals
in the NBA's only game of the day.
"We did what we needed to do tonight and we played some great
defense tonight," said Marion.
"We rebounded, and most of the time when we out-rebound a team
that means either we're bigger than them or they aren't that
big."
Boris Diaw added 14 points, 10 rebounds and six assists with
Steve Nash contributing 13 points and nine assists.
Richard Jefferson led the Nets with 24 points.
Phoenix raced to a 35-20 first-quarter lead behind seven points
each from Stoudemire and Nash and never trailed. The margin reached
18 in the second quarter.
Stoudemire, who was 11 of 16 from the floor, scored 10
successive Phoenix points in the third period.
That gave the Suns a comfortable 73-58 lead after the Nets had
pulled to within nine at 65-56 on Jason Kidd's jumper.
(Agencies via China Daily, January 22, 2008)