Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash, center, drives to the basket between Sacramento Kings center Brad Miller, left, and forward Ron Artest, during the first quarter of the Phoenix Suns-Sacramento Kings game, played Tuesday night. Phoenix slipped past Sacramento 100-98.

 Phoenix Suns center Amare Stoudemire made the shots when they mattered the most.  Stoudemire scored the Suns’ final six points and blocked a shot by Sacramento Kings’ swingman John Salmons with one second left, giving the Suns a close, 100-98 victory over the Kings.

Stoudemire made 2 free throws with 2:49 left in the game to give Phoenix a 96-94 lead; he followed up with a short jumper  and 2 more free throws to increase the Suns’ lead to 100-94 with 1:35 left.  Sacramento pulled to within 2 and had a chance to tie the game but forward Ron Artest missed a jumper.  The Suns got the rebound, but Suns guard Leandro Barbosa fumbled the ball out of bounds in an open breakaway basket try.

Kings’ swingman John Salmons attempted a lst second shot, but failed, giving Phoenix the narrow victory.  Phoenix’s high scorer was Stoudemire with 26 points, along with 13 rebounds and 4 blocked shots.  Barbosa added 22, while F Grant Hill contributed 19.  F Shawn Marion only scored 2 points, but grabbed 13 boards.

Sacramento was led by Artest with 33, with 12 rebounds and 2 steals.  G Kevin Martin, the NBA’s second leading scorer, only had 15, while G Fernando Garcia added 14.  Phoenix (9-2)  and Sacramento (4-7) will have a rematch, this time in Phoenix on Wednesday night.

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