Sixers eclipse Suns to spoil road sweep bid

NEW YORK. – The Phoenix Suns lost a road game to an Eastern Conference opponent for the first time this season, dropping a 99-94 decision to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday.

The Suns were a perfect 14-0 in East arenas heading into the contest, but never led as they missed out on becoming the first team ever to sweep all their road games against the opposite conference in a season.

The defeat leaves Phoenix tied with Philadelphia as the only teams to lose just one road game against the opposite conference, the 76ers completing the feat in the 1982-83 season on their way to the NBA championship.

Phoenix was without Shawn Marion and Boris Diaw and the lowly Sixers took advantage, winning for just the 20th time in 58 games.

"Obviously we missed Marion. We missed Diaw, too," Suns coach

Mike D’Antoni said.

"The focus wasn’t there and we got a little sloppy at the end."

The Sixers surprised the Suns with an energetic first quarter, scoring 35 points for one of their best starts in what has been a poor season.

Philadelphia maintained the lead throughout the contest but Leandro Barbosa hit a three-pointer with 4:27 left to tie the scores at 84-84 as the Suns put on a late charge.

However, the Sixers kept their composure and regained the lead, much to the delight of the 15,914 fans in the stands.

The Suns (44-14) saw their five-game winning streak snapped while the Sixers win was just their third in eight games.

Andre Iguodala scored 24 points to lead the 76ers, while Willie Green added 20 points.

Kyle Korver chipped in with 16 points and made all seven of his free throws, as Philadelphia finished a perfect 18-for-18 from the line.

Amare Stoudemire had 31 points and 14 rebounds for the Suns while Steve Nash had 23 points and nine assists even though he left the game briefly in the first half to get a sore ankle taped.

The Suns were out-rebounded 50-37 and were held to just 15 points in the third quarter to trail by 11 points heading into the final frame, a margin they never managed to bridge.

Shaquille O’Neal scored a season-high 23 points as the Miami Heat got past the Washington Wizards 92-83.

The Boston Celtics squandered a 23-point lead but rallied back to beat the New York Knicks 102-94 for their second straight victory.

Carlos Boozer had 24 points and 16 rebounds as the Utah Jazz beat the Memphis Grizzlies 104-88.

The New Orleans Hornets closed in on a Western Conference playoff spot with a 107-100 win over the Atlanta Hawks.