Fri, Jan 26, 2007 - Page 23 News List

Phoenix sews up second 15-game winning streak

AP , NEW YORK

Amare Stoudemire scored 26 of his 30 points in Phoenix's big second half, and the Suns beat the New York Knicks 112-107 for their second 15-game winning streak of the NBA season on Wednesday.

Barely a month after establishing the longest winning streak in franchise history, the Suns equaled it by turning things around after a sluggish first half in the second of back-to-back games.

Steve Nash finished with 21 points and 14 assists as the Suns scored 63 points in the second half after an un-Sunslike 49 in the first two periods. Shawn Marion added 18 points, Leandro Barbosa 15, and Stoudemire grabbed 11 rebounds.

Jamal Crawford scored 29 points, 23 in the fourth quarter in an attempt to keep New York close. Eddy Curry added 25 points for the Knicks, but only four in the final 33-plus minutes. He also left with an injury in the final quarter of New York's second straight loss.

76ers 118, Cavaliers 115, 2OT

At Cleveland, Andre Iguodala scored eight points in the second overtime and finished with a season-high 34 as Philadelphia handed Cleveland an embarrassing loss.

Samuel Dalembert added 20 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out in the second OT as the Sixers snapped a five-game losing streak on the road and won for just the third time in 20 games outside Philly. James scored a season-high 39 points -- 13 in the second OT -- and Larry Hughes added 26 for the Cavaliers, who have lost two straight at home where they are 15-5.

Cleveland, the NBA's worst free-throw shooting team at 68 percent, went 25-of-34 from the line. The Sixers, meanwhile, went 26-of-27 on their free throws with Iguodala making all 12 of his attempts.

Pacers 96, Heat 94

At Indianapolis, Danny Granger scored 14 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as Indiana rallied from a 20-point second-half deficit.

The Pacers' victory spoiled the return of Shaquille O'Neal, who came off the bench after missing 35 games while recovering from knee surgery. O'Neal finished with five points and five rebounds in 14 minutes for Miami. Dwyane Wade, who missed Miami's victory at New York on Monday with a sprained left ankle, scored 32 points.

After Indiana overcame a 65-45 third-quarter deficit, Granger gave the Pacers an early lead in overtime with a three-point play, and Troy Murphy's jumper extended the edge to 96-92 with 42 seconds left. Following Jason Kapono's basket to cut the deficit to 96-94, the Heat got the ball back with 5.4 seconds remaining and called a timeout. With the clock nearing zero, Kapono's potential game-winning 3-pointer appeared to go in before bouncing back out.

Hawks 82, Celtics 76

At Boston, Joe Johnson and Josh Smith each scored 21 points as Atlanta handed Boston its ninth straight loss. The Celtics have dropped 16 of their last 18 and have the fewest wins in the Eastern Conference at 12.

Raptors 90, Hornets 88

At Toronto, Chris Bosh scored a season-high 35 points, including a tying 3-pointer with 1:01 left, and Toronto rallied over New Orleans.

Jose Calderon had four points and a block in the final 30 seconds for the Raptors, who trailed by as many as 15 in the fourth quarter. Bosh pumped his fists after his 3-pointer tied it at 81. Calderon followed with a layup to give Toronto its first lead of the game with 28.4 seconds left.

Pistons 103, Bobcats 92

At Charlotte, North Carolina, Richard Hamilton scored 22 points and Rasheed Wallace had 11 of his 20 in the fourth quarter to help Detroit salvage a season series split with Charlotte.

This story has been viewed 1481 times.
TOP top