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The second homecoming, of sorts, for Amare Stoudemire took place at Madison Square Garden on Monday night as the Phoenix Suns came to New York City to take on the New York Knicks. This game would promise to be a high-octane contest where defense would be an afterthought.

While Stoudemire didn’t disappoint (he scored a season-high 41 points), it took a 13-4 run with 2:39 left in the game to allow Phoenix to outlast New York 129-121.

The first quarter was one reminescent of quarters that took place in the ABA, as the Suns outscored the Knicks 39-30 while New York outscored Phoenix by 12 in the second quarter. The Knicks went to their locker room with a 64-61 lead after 24 minutes of play.

The Suns took over in the third as they outscored the Knicks by nine, taking a 97-93 edge into the final 12 minutes.

Hakim Warrick scored six straight points for Phoenix before Danilo Gallinari drained a 3-pointer, tying the game at 106 with 5:29 remaining. Steve Nash answered back with a trey of his own, Vince Carter scored five straight and Channing Frye capped a 13-4 Suns run with a 3-pointer that gave them a 119-110 lead with 2:39 left. Phoenix would ice the game with free throws the rest of the way.

The entire Suns starting five scored in double-digits, led by Carter with 29 points (including 5 three-pointers), along with 12 rebounds and 4 assists while Grant Hill added 25 with 6 rebounds and 2 assists. Frye chipped in 18 with 2 rebounds and 3 assists while Nash poured in 15 with 8 rebounds, 11 assists and 2 steals.

The Knicks were led by Stoudemire with a game- and season-high 41 points, along with 6 rebounds, an assist and a block while Wilson Chandler added 23 with 5 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal and a block. Gallinari chipped in 17 with 4 rebounds, an assist, 2 steals and a block.

Both teams return to action on Wednesday night when Phoenix (18-21) travels to Cleveland to take on the Cavaliers while New York (22-18) remains at home to host the Houston Rockets.