Dec

26

Balanced Scoring + 54% Shooting = Suns Scorching Clippers 124-93

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under NBA Game Recap 

Amare Stoudemire

Maybe the Los Angeles Clippers partook of the holiday cheer a bit too much. That’s speculation, actually, but one thing could not be mistaken during their game against the Phoenix Suns Friday at US Airways Center. The Suns shot a blistering 54% from the floor while the Clippers shot just 40%; if you also factor in that seven Suns scored in double-digits, then you probably know what the end result was. That’s right, Phoenix blasted Los Angeles 124-93.

The Suns got off to a listless start, with the Clippers grabbing 14 of the game’s first 15 rebounds and taking a 16-8 lead. Gentry called time out to remind his players this is exactly how they had played on Wednesday night. At the time, the Clippers had out-rebounded Phoenix 14-1, a trait that had figured largely in the loss to Oklahoma City. Nash’s driving layup kicked off a 12-2 run that put Phoenix up 20-18 on Jason Richardson’s 22-footer, and the Suns led 30-26 after one quarter. A 10-2 spurt boosted the lead to 40-32 on Leandro Barbosa’s driving layup. To illustrate how good Phoenix had it during the first half, Hill banked in a 3-pointer from the Los Angeles 3-point line to give Phoenix a 67-55 halftime lead.

The Suns outscored the Clippers 12-4 to start the second half, making it 79-59 on Richardson’s 12-foot runner. Hill’s three-point play on a rebound basket put Phoenix ahead 86-64. Stoudemire’s three-point play with 35.9 seconds left gave the Suns a 101-77 lead after three quarters. As you could well imagine, the Suns coasted for the final 12 minutes for the win.

Amare Stoudemire led seven Suns in scoring with 26 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and a block while Richardson and Jared Dudley scored 18 each – with Richardson making three 3-pointers, grabbing 8 rebounds, dishing out 4 assists along with a steal while Dudley made 4 treys, grabbed 3 rebounds, dished out an assist along with a steal and a block. Rasual Butler led the Clippers with 22 points, 7 rebounds, an assist, a steal and 2 blocks while Chris Kaman added 19 with 10 rebounds, 3 assists and a block.

Phoenix (19-11) plays again on Saturday when they travel to Oakland to take on the Golden State Warriors while Los Angeles (12-17) returns home to host the Boston Celtics Sunday


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