Related News
Home » Sports » Basketball
Suns outshine Lakers to get their revenge
Source: Agencies |
December 30, 2009, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE Phoenix Suns cruised to a 118-103 victory at home over Pacific Division rivals the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, seizing control early and stretching their advantage through each of the four quarters.
Amare Stoudemire had a team-high 26 points and Steve Nash recorded 16 points and 13 assists to give the Suns (20-12) their first win over the Western Conference-leading Lakers this season.
"We played with toughness and grit," Nash told reporters, with the Suns having lost three of four coming into the game. "We had to get back to that training-camp underdog mentality when many NBA observers picked the Suns as a lottery team."
Kobe Bryant managed 34 points but Los Angeles slipped too far behind in the third quarter before suffering their second loss in three games.
The Lakers (24-6) had blasted Phoenix by a combined 39 points in two previous wins this campaign but the Suns gained some revenge in the home confines of US Airways Center, where they are 12-2 this season.
Clinging to a six-point advantage midway through the third, Phoenix surged with a 14-2 run over the next two minutes to go up 84-66.
Bryant sat out the final 7:50 for the Lakers as the game was out of reach.
The All-Star guard has been carrying much of the defending NBA champions' scoring load in recent games where the Lakers have looked vulnerable, especially in a lopsided loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Christmas Day.
Andrew Bynum had 14 points and nine rebounds in the latest loss, and Pau Gasol added 13.
Forward Ron Artest missed his second straight game for the Lakers after sustaining a concussion and injured elbow in an accident at his home.
"I don't think Ron would have had anything to do with this ball game," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "But (his presence) would have helped our bench."
The Suns received an unexpected boost from Jared Dudley, who tied a career high with 19 points off the bench. The Suns reserves were particularly important and tallied 52 points.
Season high
In East Rutherford, New Jersey, Kevin Durant matched his season high with 40 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated New Jersey Nets 105-89, sending the Nets to their 10th straight loss and their second double-digit losing streak of the season.
Yi Jianlian matched his career high with 29 points to lead New Jersey, which set an NBA record with 18 straight losses to start the season. Courtney Lee chipped in with 17, Trenton Hassell had 14 and Devin Harris had 11 and 11 assists.
In Charlotte, North Carolina, Gerald Wallace had 21 points and 14 rebounds as the Bobcats beat the Milwaukee Bucks 94-84 in a miserable performance for the Bucks that prompted coach Scott Skiles to bench Michael Redd and Andrew Bogut.
Elsewhere, it was: Grizzlies 116, Wizards 111, OT; Warriors 103, Celtics 99; 76ers 104, Blazers 93; and Kings 106, Nuggets 101.
Amare Stoudemire had a team-high 26 points and Steve Nash recorded 16 points and 13 assists to give the Suns (20-12) their first win over the Western Conference-leading Lakers this season.
"We played with toughness and grit," Nash told reporters, with the Suns having lost three of four coming into the game. "We had to get back to that training-camp underdog mentality when many NBA observers picked the Suns as a lottery team."
Kobe Bryant managed 34 points but Los Angeles slipped too far behind in the third quarter before suffering their second loss in three games.
The Lakers (24-6) had blasted Phoenix by a combined 39 points in two previous wins this campaign but the Suns gained some revenge in the home confines of US Airways Center, where they are 12-2 this season.
Clinging to a six-point advantage midway through the third, Phoenix surged with a 14-2 run over the next two minutes to go up 84-66.
Bryant sat out the final 7:50 for the Lakers as the game was out of reach.
The All-Star guard has been carrying much of the defending NBA champions' scoring load in recent games where the Lakers have looked vulnerable, especially in a lopsided loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Christmas Day.
Andrew Bynum had 14 points and nine rebounds in the latest loss, and Pau Gasol added 13.
Forward Ron Artest missed his second straight game for the Lakers after sustaining a concussion and injured elbow in an accident at his home.
"I don't think Ron would have had anything to do with this ball game," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "But (his presence) would have helped our bench."
The Suns received an unexpected boost from Jared Dudley, who tied a career high with 19 points off the bench. The Suns reserves were particularly important and tallied 52 points.
Season high
In East Rutherford, New Jersey, Kevin Durant matched his season high with 40 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated New Jersey Nets 105-89, sending the Nets to their 10th straight loss and their second double-digit losing streak of the season.
Yi Jianlian matched his career high with 29 points to lead New Jersey, which set an NBA record with 18 straight losses to start the season. Courtney Lee chipped in with 17, Trenton Hassell had 14 and Devin Harris had 11 and 11 assists.
In Charlotte, North Carolina, Gerald Wallace had 21 points and 14 rebounds as the Bobcats beat the Milwaukee Bucks 94-84 in a miserable performance for the Bucks that prompted coach Scott Skiles to bench Michael Redd and Andrew Bogut.
Elsewhere, it was: Grizzlies 116, Wizards 111, OT; Warriors 103, Celtics 99; 76ers 104, Blazers 93; and Kings 106, Nuggets 101.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
