Amare (again) leads Suns past Nets and back on top of Pac5
(AP Photo/Bill Kostroun) Amaré Stoudemire scored 33 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead the Suns past the Nets 110-104 Saturday night at the Meadowlands. With the win Phoenix (49-24) moves into a tie for first in the Pac5 with the struggling Lakers.
Leandro Barbosa, starting in place of Grant Hill out resting a couple of minor injuries, had 21 points while Shaq had points 17 points mostly out of some good (that one-handed shot is working) free throw shooting (7-of-10 for the Big Cactus at the line).
The Suns used only 7 players in the game despite Nash (10 points, 11 assists) struggling with his shoulder. It could be time to start decreasing some of his minutes before the playoffs.
The Nets, trying to make the post season, came out determined to win the game, while the Suns were a bit flat early on as this was the fourth game in six days. New Jersey led 31-21 after one but Phoenix came back to take the lead. The game remained closed until the last few minutes, anyway. Diaw and Nash made key plays in the end to secure the victory.
“We obviously had a much better second half; I thought we played much better both defensively and offensively” according to coach D’Antoni.
New Jersey had 32 points from the excellent Vince Carter and 20 by Richard Jefferson. The Nets are missing Jason Kidd of course but their new backcourt of Jefferson and Harris is very good.
The Suns have only nine games left in the regular season and a legitimate shot at a Division Title, that, before that 7-game win streak looked like almost out of reach.
The Suns completed the four game trip East at 2-2 with a “good” loss in Detroit, a “bad” loss in Boston and a couple of solid performances against Philadelphia and New Jersey to confirm what we already knew. Phoenix won’t be denied by those middle of the pack teams like the Sixers and the Nets but will struggle against the elite teams in the League.
The game also was the last of the regular season against the East with the Suns finishing the year at 24-6.
Phoenix will now play its final March game on Monday night (7 PM) against Denver, the first of a 2-day home and home series against the Nuggets (45-28) riding a 5-game winning streak and with last night’s victory over Golden State trying to hold eight place in the West.
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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