Perfect STAT leads Suns past Rockets 122-113
(AP Photo/Matt York) Amarè Stoudemire scored 38 points, including a record 20-of-20 on free throws, as the Suns beat the Rockets 122-113 last night at the US Airways Center.
STAT had one of his best games of the season, a game that also included 9-of-15 shooting from the field, 13 boards and 4 blocked shots. “Actually he would be the only one, no one else is going to the line 20 times and he’s such a good shooter” said Nash showing much-deserved appreciation for his teammate. Stoudemire broke the 37-year old franchise record held by Paul Silas.
With Shaq in the line up Amaré has averaged almost 29 points and 10 rebounds a game. His defense (more or less) still stinks but playing alongside the Big Cactus is making Amamré a better player.
The Suns outscored the Rockets early on, 38-21 after one quarter, including a 12-3 run to open the game, and shot an amazing 76 percent in the first half. The Suns ended the game at almost 57 percent from the field and 95 percent (38-for-40) from the free throw line
“Obviously the first half was really good (…) when you shoot 77 percent in the first half and we end up 56.5 percent, it’s pretty good” said Coach D’Antoni.
The Suns had six players with at least 10 points including Shaq with 23 and 13 rebounds (good game for the big cactus), Nash with 15 and Barbosa with 21 (9-of-13 from the field) starting in place of injuried Raja Bell.
One curious note from the box score, Nash had 5 assists while Grant Hill had 10. Before yesterday’s game, I can’t recall the last time a player not named Nash led the Suns in the assists category.
Houston, of course without Yao Ming for the rest of the year, had 30 points from Tracy McGrady (along with 9 assists and 8 rebounds) and 16 from Luis Scola.
Phoenix never looked back from that great start and dominated the game en route to their seventh straight win. With the win the Suns overtook the Rockets on 3rd place of Conference standings and are now one game behind the Lakers in the Pac5.
The Suns will now head East for a tough 4-game stretch that will start with a Monday game (4:30 PM) in Detroit before going to Boston, Philadelphia and New Jersey.
Enjoy Easter and Good luck with the eggs !
Yours truly, Steve Fan
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Posted by Steve Fan
Blogger and Steve Nash enthusiast. Don't get in his way, he'll MVP your ass.
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