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Suns' Stoudemire scorches Lakers
Source: Agencies |
May 25, 2010, Tuesday
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AMARE Stoudemire matched his career playoff high with 42 points, 29 in the second half, and grabbed 11 rebounds to power the Phoenix Suns to a 118-109 win on Sunday that cut the Los Angeles Lakers' lead in the Western Conference finals to 2-1.
"Just being aggressive, really going after it," Stoudemire said. "Tonight I wanted to come out with some aggressiveness and get it going."
Phoenix, dominated inside in the first two games, won with its big men, and a big advantage at the free throw line.
Robin Lopez, whose 7-foot presence gave the Suns some much-needed toughness inside, scored 20 on 8-of-10 shooting in 31 minutes, by far his most playing time since returning from a back injury at the start of the series. Phoenix made 37-of-42 free throws, 14 of 18 by Stoudemire. The Lakers were 16 of 20 at the line.
Kobe Bryant had 36 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds. Pau Gasol scored 23 points, but the Lakers didn't get as much help from their supporting cast as they did in the first two games.
"We certainly didn't come out to play the way I wanted," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said, "and we certainly didn't play the way I wanted at the end."
The Suns, the second-best 3-point shooting team in NBA history in the regular season, were just 5 of 20. But Jason Richardson was 4 of 7, including one with 26 seconds to go to put the lid on the triumph, snapping the Lakers' eight-game playoff winning streak.
Richardson scored 19. Steve Nash had 17 points and 15 assists.
Stoudemire, who had just nine rebounds in the first two games and had been criticized for his lack of defense, scored repeatedly on drives to the basket, when he either made the basket, was fouled, or both. The All-Star power forward, who can opt out of the final year of his contract after this season, made 10-of-12 shots in the second half, scoring 16 in the third quarter and 13 in the fourth.
"My dedication to the game should never be questioned," Stoudemire said. "I always give 100 percent."
Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers have fired head coach Mike Brown, who had a 272-138 record in five years with the Cavaliers. The team failed to make the Eastern Conference finals after posting the league's best regular-season record.
"Just being aggressive, really going after it," Stoudemire said. "Tonight I wanted to come out with some aggressiveness and get it going."
Phoenix, dominated inside in the first two games, won with its big men, and a big advantage at the free throw line.
Robin Lopez, whose 7-foot presence gave the Suns some much-needed toughness inside, scored 20 on 8-of-10 shooting in 31 minutes, by far his most playing time since returning from a back injury at the start of the series. Phoenix made 37-of-42 free throws, 14 of 18 by Stoudemire. The Lakers were 16 of 20 at the line.
Kobe Bryant had 36 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds. Pau Gasol scored 23 points, but the Lakers didn't get as much help from their supporting cast as they did in the first two games.
"We certainly didn't come out to play the way I wanted," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said, "and we certainly didn't play the way I wanted at the end."
The Suns, the second-best 3-point shooting team in NBA history in the regular season, were just 5 of 20. But Jason Richardson was 4 of 7, including one with 26 seconds to go to put the lid on the triumph, snapping the Lakers' eight-game playoff winning streak.
Richardson scored 19. Steve Nash had 17 points and 15 assists.
Stoudemire, who had just nine rebounds in the first two games and had been criticized for his lack of defense, scored repeatedly on drives to the basket, when he either made the basket, was fouled, or both. The All-Star power forward, who can opt out of the final year of his contract after this season, made 10-of-12 shots in the second half, scoring 16 in the third quarter and 13 in the fourth.
"My dedication to the game should never be questioned," Stoudemire said. "I always give 100 percent."
Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers have fired head coach Mike Brown, who had a 272-138 record in five years with the Cavaliers. The team failed to make the Eastern Conference finals after posting the league's best regular-season record.
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