Suns down Nuggets
PHOENIX — Shawn Marion scored 27 points,
pulled down 14 rebounds and blocked six shots to help the
Phoenix Suns end the Denver Nuggets’ three-game winning streak
with a crushing 137-115 home victory in the NBA on Monday.
In a showdown of division leaders, Marion
also had five three-pointers as Phoenix made 20 in total, one
short of the NBA record.
Marcus Banks added 23 points, connecting on
seven of eight three-point attempts.
"That was huge," Suns center Amare
Stoudemire said.
"Marcus played phenomenal out there with
guarding Allen Iverson and also shooting the ball well from
deep. That is something that we need and it was a spark."
Stoudemire and Grant Hill each had 20
points for the Pacific Division-leading Suns (24-10), who won
for the 11th time in 15 home games. Stoudemire also had 10
rebounds while Steve Nash added 13 points and 10 assists.
Phoenix put on an awesome offensive display
in the first quarter, scoring 46 points with Marion getting 10
and Stoudemire nine.
"They got happy and they got cocky and they
rubbed our faces in the game a little bit," said Nuggets coach
George Karl. "It’ll be fun the next time we play them."
Iverson scored 17 of Denver’s 34 points in
the first quarter and finished with 32. Carmelo Anthony added
20 for the Nuggets (21-13), who share the lead in the
Northwest Division with Portland.
Baron Davis had 34 points and 14 assists
and Stephen Jackson scored 29 points, 12 of them in overtime,
as the Golden State Warriors beat the San Antonio Spurs
130-121.
Tim Duncan had 32 points and 13 rebounds
and Tony Parker scored 31 points and had eight assists for the
Spurs.
"I thought our spirits were really down,
but somehow we got it back together," coach Don Nelson said.
"And I think we can thank Baron for this one."
"It was a much-needed victory to scratch that two-game
streak we were on," said Davis, referring to home losses to
Denver and New Orleans.