GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: NEW YORK (2-3) at PHOENIX (5-2)

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW YORK (2-3) at PHOENIX (5-2)

<h3>Suns seek third straight win vs. Knicks despite injuries</h3>

<div class="pre">New York (2-3) at Phoenix (5-2) 9:00 pm EST</div>

PHOENIX (Ticker) - Injuries to Amare Stoudemire and Raja Bellhaven't kept the Phoenix Suns from winning.


The Suns go for their third straight on Tuesday when they facethe New York Knicks.


Bell, who sprained his right ankle against the Miami Heat onFriday, was unable to play on Saturday against the Orlando Magicand may not be healthy in time for Tuesday's game. LeandroBarbosa made his first start of the season in place of theinjured Bell and led the Suns to a 106-96 victory, scoring 39points while hitting 8-of-13 shots from 3-point range.

Barbosa has been terrific for the Suns, averaging 18.6 points and3.4 assists this season.


Stoudemire added 13 points against the Magic after missing threegames earlier in November due to pain in his knee. The24-year-old center hasn't found his 2006-07 form yet thiscampaign, averaging just 13.0 points and 5.3 rebounds afterscoring 20.4 points and 9.3 rebounds a game last season.

The Knicks suffered a second straight loss on Sunday as theywere also without their key player, Zach Randolph.

Randolph, who has a double-double in each of his first fourgames, missed Sunday's contest against the Heat after returninghome following the death of his grandmother on Friday and it isuncertain when the forward will return.

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW YORK (2-3) at PHOENIX (5-2)

<h3>Suns seek third straight win vs. Knicks despite injuries</h3>

New York (2-3) at Phoenix (5-2) 9:00 pm EST


PHOENIX (Ticker) - Injuries to Amare Stoudemire and Raja Bellhaven't kept the Phoenix Suns from winning.


The Suns go for their third straight on Tuesday when they facethe New York Knicks.


Bell, who sprained his right ankle against the Miami Heat onFriday, was unable to play on Saturday against the Orlando Magicand may not be healthy in time for Tuesday's game. LeandroBarbosa made his first start of the season in place of theinjured Bell and led the Suns to a 106-96 victory, scoring 39points while hitting 8-of-13 shots from 3-point range.

Barbosa has been terrific for the Suns, averaging 18.6 points and3.4 assists this season.


Stoudemire added 13 points against the Magic after missing threegames earlier in November due to pain in his knee. The24-year-old center hasn't found his 2006-07 form yet thiscampaign, averaging just 13.0 points and 5.3 rebounds afterscoring 20.4 points and 9.3 rebounds a game last season.

The Knicks suffered a second straight loss on Sunday as theywere also without their key player, Zach Randolph.

Randolph, who has a double-double in each of his first fourgames, missed Sunday's contest against the Heat after returninghome following the death of his grandmother on Friday and it isuncertain when the forward will return.

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW YORK at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NEW YORK VS PHOENIX - INACTIVES

NEW YORK PHOENIX

PLAYER NAME REASON PLAYER NAME REASON
S MARBURY COACH'S DECISION R BELL ANKLE INJURY
J JAMES KNEE INJURY
Z RANDOLPH PERSONAL REASONS</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW YORK at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NBA NEW YORK 11
PHOENIX 15 8:15 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW YORK at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NBA NEW YORK 11
PHOENIX 15 8:15 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW YORK at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NBA NEW YORK 16
PHOENIX 22 5:41 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW YORK at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NBA NEW YORK 21
PHOENIX 28 2:28 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW YORK at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
NEW YORK 29 29
PHOENIX 34 34 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

NYK - NATE ROBINSON 8, JAMAL CRAWFORD 7, EDDY
CURRY 6
PHO - AMARE STOUDEMIRE 14, LEANDRO BARBOSA 9,
SHAWN MARION 6</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW YORK at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NBA NEW YORK 33
PHOENIX 44 9:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW YORK at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NBA NEW YORK 39
PHOENIX 48 5:59 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW YORK at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NBA NEW YORK 51
PHOENIX 63 HALFTIME</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW YORK at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NBA NEW YORK 60
PHOENIX 78 5:48 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW YORK at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NBA NEW YORK 60
PHOENIX 78 5:48 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW YORK at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NBA NEW YORK 72
PHOENIX 87 END, 3RD QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW YORK at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NBA NEW YORK 85
PHOENIX 103 6:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW YORK at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NBA NEW YORK 91
PHOENIX 107 2:58 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW YORK at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NBA NEW YORK 100
PHOENIX 111 0:34 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW YORK at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
NEW YORK 29 22 21 30 102
PHOENIX 34 29 24 26 113 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: NYK - JAMAL CRAWFORD 21, FRED JONES 19, EDDY
CURRY 17
PHO - AMARE STOUDEMIRE 26, SHAWN MARION 23,
LEANDRO BARBOSA 23</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW YORK at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NEW YORK (102) AT PHOENIX (113)

NEW YORK

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

F JONES F 45:37 7-13 3-4 3 6 9 3 2 3 7 19
D LEE F 26:54 2-10 0-1 1 4 5 2 2 0 1 4
E CURRY C 25:34 7-11 3-4 3 5 8 0 6 1 1 17
J CRAWFORD G 40:54 8-16 3-4 0 1 1 4 1 1 5 21
M COLLINS G 5:58 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0
N ROBINSON 25:37 7-15 2-2 1 2 3 5 4 1 0 18
R BALKMAN 22:53 2-5 0-2 1 3 4 1 3 0 0 4
J JEFFRIES 12:13 0-1 2-2 1 2 3 2 0 1 0 2
M ROSE 11:38 1-4 2-2 1 0 1 0 2 0 2 4
W CHANDLER 17:48 4-7 0-0 1 1 2 0 4 1 1 8
R MORRIS 4:54 2-3 1-1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 5

TOTALS 240:00 40-86 16-22 12 24 36 19 26 9 17 102
(.465) (.727) TEAM REBS: 5 TOTAL TO: 17 (0 PTS)

PHOENIX

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

G HILL F 36:31 7-8 4-4 0 3 3 2 4 0 2 21
S MARION F 30:43 9-14 3-4 2 5 7 1 3 2 2 23
A STOUDEMIRE C 29:56 8-14 10-14 4 8 12 1 3 1 0 26
L BARBOSA G 43:08 11-18 0-0 0 1 1 1 2 3 4 23
S NASH G 34:22 2-6 1-1 0 3 3 12 2 1 6 5
B DIAW 31:48 2-6 4-5 0 2 2 6 1 1 3 8
E PIATKOWSKI 10:34 1-3 0-0 0 3 3 0 2 0 0 3
B SKINNER 18:04 1-3 2-2 3 4 7 0 3 3 1 4
M BANKS 4:54 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTALS 240:00 41-73 24-30 9 29 38 23 20 11 18 113
(.562) (.800) TEAM REBS: 11 TOTAL TO: 19 (0 PTS)

NEW YORK 29 22 21 30 - 102
PHOENIX 34 29 24 26 - 113

BLOCKED SHOTS: NEW YORK - J CRAWFORD, E CURRY, R BALKMAN. PHOENIX -
A STOUDEMIRE 4, B SKINNER 2, S MARION 2.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: NEW YORK 6-16 (.375), F JONES 2-5, J CRAWFORD 2-
4, N ROBINSON 2-6, W CHANDLER 0-1. PHOENIX 7-19 (.368), G HILL 3-4,
S MARION 2-4, A STOUDEMIRE 0-1, L BARBOSA 1-4, S NASH 0-3, E PIATKOWSKI 1-
2, M BANKS 0-1.
TECHNICAL FOULS: NEW YORK - E CURRY.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: JOE CRAWFORD, PHIL ROBINSON, RON OLESIAK.
A - 18,422. T - 2:12.</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

PHOENIX (Ticker) -- While New York Knicks guard Stephon Marburywas in the air on Tuesday, his team was getting pounded into theground.


Amare Stoudemire collected 26 points and 12 rebounds and SteveNash dished out 12 assists as the Phoenix Suns outclassed theundermanned Knicks, 113-102, at the U.S. Airways Center onTuesday night.


Shawn Marion had 23 points and seven rebounds for the Suns, whotook advantage of New York playing without Marbury and forwardsZach Randolph (death in the family) and Quentin Richardson(elbow).


But the most glaring absence was the 30-year-old Marbury, whoreportedly skipped the Knicks' morning practice on Monday afterbeing informed that he would not start in Tuesday's game.

The enigmatic point guard reportedly flew back to New York priorto the contest in a huff - sparking rumors that the Brooklynnative had played his last game for his hometown team.

If so, Marbury's tenure in New York has been rife withunfulfilled expectations and controversy since his arrival in2004-05.


The Knicks spent this summer fighting off an embarrassing sexualharrassment lawsuit by former Madison Square Garden employeeAnucha Browne Sanders. The central figures in that case - coachIsiah Thomas and Marbury - are again front and center in NewYork's current debacle.


Thomas' relationship with Marbury may have eroded after thepoint guard's testimony in the very public trial most likelycaused the coach - and MSG - to lose the case. Thomas respondedby reportedly benching Marbury at an odd time, just five gamesinto the season.


As a result, the Knicks started second-year guard Mardy Collins- a defensive-minded player - and relied heavily on 5-9sparkplug Nate Robinson against the high-powered Suns.

Collins' spot in the starting lineup was short-lived after hesprained his right foot at the 6:02 mark in the first quarter.But his presence most likely would not have mattered against theSuns.


The timing could not have been worse without Marbury, who lefthis teammates behind just in time for the matchup with two-timeMVP Nash - one of the league's top floor generals.

Nash seemed to be toying with Knicks on Tuesday, probing thelane and finding wide-open teammates for uncontested jumpers.He hit his first field goal just two minutes into the finalperiod but still dominated the contest.


The unselfish play of Nash led to 56 percent shooting (41-of-73)from the field by Phoenix, which scored 63 points in theopening half and effectively put the game away early in thethird quarter.


Jamal Crawford scored 21 points for New York, which plays at theLos Angeles Clippers in the second of a four-game West Coastroad trip on Wednesday night.

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW YORK at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NEW YORK (102) AT PHOENIX (113)

NEW YORK

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

F JONES F 45:37 7-13 3-4 3 6 9 3 2 3 7 19
D LEE F 26:54 2-10 0-1 1 4 5 2 2 0 1 4
E CURRY C 25:34 7-11 3-4 3 5 8 0 6 1 1 17
J CRAWFORD G 40:54 8-16 3-4 0 1 1 4 1 1 5 21
M COLLINS G 5:58 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0
N ROBINSON 25:37 7-15 2-2 1 2 3 5 4 1 0 18
R BALKMAN 22:53 2-5 0-2 1 3 4 1 3 0 0 4
J JEFFRIES 12:13 0-1 2-2 1 2 3 2 0 1 0 2
M ROSE 11:38 1-4 2-2 1 0 1 0 2 0 2 4
W CHANDLER 17:48 4-7 0-0 1 1 2 0 4 1 1 8
R MORRIS 4:54 2-3 1-1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 5
Q RICHARDSON DNP - HYPEREXTENDED RIGHT ELBOW

TOTALS 240:00 40-86 16-22 12 24 36 19 26 9 17 102
(.465) (.727) TEAM REBS: 5 TOTAL TO: 17 (15 PTS)

PHOENIX

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

G HILL F 36:31 7-8 4-4 0 3 3 2 4 0 2 21
S MARION F 30:43 9-14 3-4 2 5 7 1 3 2 2 23
A STOUDEMIRE C 29:56 8-14 10-14 4 8 12 1 3 1 0 26
L BARBOSA G 43:08 11-18 0-0 0 1 1 1 2 3 4 23
S NASH G 34:22 2-6 1-1 0 3 3 12 2 1 6 5
B DIAW 31:48 2-6 4-5 0 2 2 6 1 1 3 8
E PIATKOWSKI 10:34 1-3 0-0 0 3 3 0 2 0 0 3
B SKINNER 18:04 1-3 2-2 3 4 7 0 3 3 1 4
M BANKS 4:54 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
A TUCKER DNP - COACH'S DECISION
D STRAWBERRY DNP - COACH'S DECISION
S MARKS DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 41-73 24-30 9 29 38 23 20 11 18 113
(.562) (.800) TEAM REBS: 11 TOTAL TO: 19 (22 PTS)

NEW YORK 29 22 21 30 - 102
PHOENIX 34 29 24 26 - 113

BLOCKED SHOTS: NEW YORK - J CRAWFORD, E CURRY, R BALKMAN. PHOENIX -
A STOUDEMIRE 4, B SKINNER 2, S MARION 2.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: NEW YORK 6-16 (.375), F JONES 2-5, J CRAWFORD 2-
4, N ROBINSON 2-6, W CHANDLER 0-1. PHOENIX 7-19 (.368), G HILL 3-4,
S MARION 2-4, A STOUDEMIRE 0-1, L BARBOSA 1-4, S NASH 0-3, E PIATKOWSKI 1-
2, M BANKS 0-1.
TECHNICAL FOULS: NEW YORK - TEAM.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: JOE CRAWFORD, PHIL ROBINSON, RON OLESIAK.
A - 18,422. T - 2:12.</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW YORK at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NEW YORK (102)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
F Jones 45:37 7-13 3-4 3-9 3 2 19
D Lee 26:54 2-10 0-1 1-5 2 2 4
E Curry 25:34 7-11 3-4 3-8 0 6 17
J Crawford 40:54 8-16 3-4 0-1 4 1 21
M Collins 5:58 0-1 0-0 0-0 2 1 0
N Robinson 25:37 7-15 2-2 1-3 5 4 18
R Balkman 22:53 2-5 0-2 1-4 1 3 4
J Jeffries 12:13 0-1 2-2 1-3 2 0 2
M Rose 11:38 1-4 2-2 1-1 0 2 4
W Chandler 17:48 4-7 0-0 1-2 0 4 8
R Morris 4:54 2-3 1-1 0-0 0 1 5
Q Richardson DNP - HYPEREXTENDED RIGHT ELBOW

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 40-86 16-22 12-36 19 26 102
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.465, FT-.727. 3-Point Goals:
6-16, .375 (F Jones 2-5, J Crawford 2-4, N
Robinson 2-6, W Chandler 0-1). Team Rebounds:
5. Blocked Shots:3 (J Crawford, E Curry, R
Balkman). Turnovers:17 (F Jones 7, J Crawford
5, M Rose 2, E Curry, D Lee, W Chandler).
Steals: 9 (F Jones 3, J Crawford, J Jeffries,
R Morris, W Chandler, N Robinson, E Curry).


PHOENIX (113)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
G Hill 36:31 7-8 4-4 0-3 2 4 21
S Marion 30:43 9-14 3-4 2-7 1 3 23
A Stoudemire 29:56 8-14 10-14 4-12 1 3 26
L Barbosa 43:08 11-18 0-0 0-1 1 2 23
S Nash 34:22 2-6 1-1 0-3 12 2 5
B Diaw 31:48 2-6 4-5 0-2 6 1 8
E Piatkowski 10:34 1-3 0-0 0-3 0 2 3
B Skinner 18:04 1-3 2-2 3-7 0 3 4
M Banks 4:54 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
A Tucker DNP - COACH'S DECISION
D Strawberry DNP - COACH'S DECISION
S Marks DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 41-73 24-30 9-38 23 20 113
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.562, FT-.800. 3-Point Goals:
7-19, .368 (G Hill 3-4, S Marion 2-4, A
Stoudemire 0-1, L Barbosa 1-4, S Nash 0-3, E
Piatkowski 1-2, M Banks 0-1). Team Rebounds:
11. Blocked Shots:8 (A Stoudemire 4, B
Skinner 2, S Marion 2). Turnovers:18 (S Nash
6, L Barbosa 4, B Diaw 3, G Hill 2, S Marion
2, B Skinner). Steals: 11 (B Skinner 3, L
Barbosa 3, S Marion 2, S Nash, B Diaw, A
Stoudemire).

--------------------------------------------
NEW YORK 29 22 21 30 - 102
PHOENIX 34 29 24 26 - 113
--------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: New York - 1 (Team, 9:25
1st).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 18,422. T: 2:12.
Officials: Joe Crawford, Phil Robinson, Ron
Olesiak.</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

PHOENIX (Ticker) -- While New York Knicks guard Stephon Marburywas in the air on Tuesday, his team was getting pounded into theground.


Amare Stoudemire collected 26 points and 12 rebounds and SteveNash dished out 12 assists as the Phoenix Suns outclassed theundermanned Knicks, 113-102, at the U.S. Airways Center onTuesday night.


Shawn Marion had 23 points and seven rebounds for the Suns, whotook advantage of New York playing without Marbury and forwardsZach Randolph (death in the family) and Quentin Richardson(elbow).


"We'll be fine once we get those guys healthy," Crawford said."We just have to hang together and play with the guys that areout there."


But Suns coach Mike D'Antoni admitted his team's performanceleft a lot to be desired.


"I thought it was OK. I wasn't fairly impressed. I thought wewere still a little sluggish," D'Antoni said. "They had 15 guyshurt, but we should have had more energy, worked harder.

"The crowd was worse than we are. They're deader then we are.What are they waiting for, April? It might have been who wewere playing, but that is no excuse."


The most glaring absence for the Knicks was the 30-year-oldMarbury, who skipped the Knicks' morning practice on Mondayafter reportedly being informed that he would not start inTuesday's game.


The enigmatic point guard flew back to New York prior to thecontest in a huff - sparking rumors that the Brooklyn native hadplayed his last game for his hometown team.


If so, Marbury's tenure in New York has been rife withunfulfilled expectations and controversy since his arrival in2004-05.


But teammate Jamal Crawford still wants Marbury to be a part ofthe team.


"Of course, I want (Marbury) back. He is my teammate," Crawfordsaid. "That is something we will deal with. It is notsomething you expect (his absence), but you have to deal withit."


The Knicks spent this summer fighting off an embarrassing sexualharassment lawsuit by former Madison Square Garden employeeAnucha Browne Sanders. The central figures in that case - coachIsiah Thomas and Marbury - are again front and center in NewYork's current debacle.


Thomas' relationship with Marbury may have eroded after thepoint guard's testimony in the very public trial most likelycaused the coach - and MSG - to lose the case. Thomas respondedby reportedly benching Marbury at an odd time, just five gamesinto the season.


As a result, the Knicks started second-year guard Mardy Collins- a defensive-minded player - and relied heavily on 5-9sparkplug Nate Robinson against the high-powered Suns.

Collins' spot in the starting lineup was short-lived after hesprained his right foot at the 6:02 mark in the first quarter.But his presence most likely would not have mattered against theSuns.


"Injuries are part of the game, and we've certainly been hit withour share this early in the season," Thomas said. "Even withyour full team and your best team, it's still hard to come intothis building and get a win."


The timing could not have been worse without Marbury, who lefthis teammates behind just in time for the matchup with two-timeMVP Nash - one of the league's top floor generals.

Nash seemed to be toying with Knicks on Tuesday, probing thelane and finding wide-open teammates for uncontested jumpers. Hehit his first field goal just two minutes into the final periodbut still dominated the contest.


The unselfish play of Nash led to 56 percent shooting (41-of-73)from the field by Phoenix, which scored a season-high 63 pointsin the opening half and effectively put the game away early inthe third quarter.


The Suns shot 61 percent in the first quarter but ended up withjust a five-point lead going into the second at 34-29.Stoudemire, who played nearly 30 minutes while he is coming backfrom knee surgery, paced Phoenix with 12 points in the quarter.

"That is the best I felt since game one so, since I have beenback, that is the strongest I felt," Stoudemire said. "I wantedto be aggressive from the start and supply some energy. I aman energy guy and wanted to supply energy by attacking early."

Leandro Barbosa, making his second consecutive start replacingthe injured Raja Bell, scored 23 points and Grant Hill added aseason-high 21.


"Everyone is telling me to keep playing and firing away. Ittakes guys a little while to get used to the pace here," Hillsaid. "When you hear about Richardson being hurt, Marbury nothere, you have a tendency to be even more complacent. As coachsaid, we are not planning to beat the Knicks, we are planning towin a championship."


Crawford scored 21 points for New York, which plays at the LosAngeles Clippers in the second of a four-game West Coast roadtrip on Wednesday night.