LOS ANGELES, 28 December 2004 — Amare Stoudemire and Quentin Richardson made sure the Phoenix Suns kept their winning streak alive.
Stoudemire scored 33 points and Richardson added 18, including three timely 3-pointers in a pivotal 20-7 fourth quarter run, helping the red-hot Suns pull away for their 11th consecutive victory, 106-94, over the visiting Toronto Raptors yesterday.
“There are obviously a lot of positive things when you are 24-3 and that is what we are,” said Suns coach Mike D’Antoni, whose club owns the league’s best record. “Stoudemire had a great game and Q Richardson hit some big three’s.”
Shaun Marion had 18 points and 18 rebounds for Phoenix, which is three victories from matching its longest streak in franchise-history. Steve Nash also scored 18 points, and handed out 13 assists to break Magic Johnson’s 18-year-old record of 10 consecutive winning games with double digits in assists.
“It is kind of embarrassing in a way,” said Nash, who runs the high-octane offense. “Magic is one of the greatest players ever to play the game and to be mentioned with him is a big thrill and honor. But by no stretch am I Magic.”
Phoenix blew a 20-point cushion when Matt Bonner’s jumper knotted the contest at 80-apiece with 8:36 remaining. The Suns regrouped, however.
Stoudemire scored six points, while Richardson hit a trio of 3-pointers before capping the spurt with two free throws, to put the host back on top for good, 100-87 with 3:13 left.
“I was just trying to take a big shot to help the team and lift the team,” Richardson said “We were struggling and that gets the crowd into it and the team gets psyched.”
Jalen Rose led Toronto with 19 points and Chris Bosh added 18.
Mavericks 102 Nuggets 88
German juggernaut Dirk Nowitzki had 23 of his 36 points in the second half, helping the visiting Mavericks hand the Nuggets their fifth straight loss.
Michael Finley added 20 points for Dallas, which outscored its hosts, 59-36, after intermission.
Andre Miller had 18 points to pace Denver, while Kenyon Martin added 15 but missed the second half due to back spasms. The Nuggets were also without Carmelo Anthony, nursing a sore left ankle.
San Antonio Spurs 107 Boston Celtics 90: Frenchman Tony Parker scored a season-high 27 points, and Devin Brown added 17, to lead a balanced attack as the Spurs improved its league-best home mark to 13-1.
San Antonio’s Bruce Bowen chipped in with 16 points while Tim Duncan had 14 and 11 rebounds. Ricky Davis led Boston with 21 points.
Houston Rockets 96 L.A. Clippers 79: Tracy McGrady and Jim Jackson scored 21 points apiece, while Yao Ming had 20 and 11 rebounds as the Rockets sent the sinking Clippers to their sixth loss in the last seven games.
Corey Maggette led the visiting Clippers with 23 points but sat out the fourth quarter.
Cavaliers 100 Hornets 91
LeBron James had 22 points, 14 assists and nine rebounds as the Cavaliers handed the hapless Hornets their 12th consecutive road loss.
Drew Gooden had 18 points and 18 rebounds for Cleveland, while Jeff McInniss added 16 and 10 assists. Lee Nailon led league-worst New Orleans (2-24) with 18 points.
Knicks 91 Bobcats 82
Tim Thomas scored 20 points while Allan Houston and Nazr Mohammed added 16 apiece, helping the short-handed Knicks snap a two-game losing streak.
Earlier in the day, Jamal Crawford was placed on injured reserve with turf toe of his right foot, which is expected to keep New York’s second leading scorer out from 3-6 weeks.
Emeka Okafor led Charlotte (7-16) with 23 points and 15 rebounds.
Bucks 99 Chicago Bulls 92
Michael Redd scored 20 of his season-high 39 points in the first quarter, to help the Bucks stop a five-game slide. Ben Gordon netted 19 points to pace Chicago, which had its season-high five-game winning streak snapped.
Timberwolves 109 Wizards 74
Wally Szczerbiak scored 23 points and Sam Cassell added 22 as the Timberwolves recorded their third largest blowout in franchise history.
Kevin Garnett collected 18, 12 rebounds, eight assists and four blocks as Minnesota stopped a modest two-game slide.
Gilbert Arenas led Washington with 21 points.
Warriors 98 Sacramento Kings 94
Jayson Richardson scored all 26 of his points in the second half, including five in the final minute, leading the Warriors to their first win at Sacramento in more than six years.
Chris Webber had 28 points and Peja Stojakovic added 18 for Sacramento, which had won the last 11 meetings at Arco Arena dating back to March 9, 1998.
