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D'Antoni receives warm ovation, but Knicks' shooting ice cold
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Mike D'Antoni faced his former team for the first time since leaving this past summer.
He and Steve Nash exchange words prior to the game. (AP Photo: Paul Connors)
In his first game back at the US Airways Center in Phoenix, Mike D’Antoni received a warm, appreciative ovation from Suns fans as he was announced before Monday’s game. That, however, was the only thing near room temperature for the New York Knicks as the Suns rolled to a 111-103 victory.
The Knicks shot just 13.5 percent from the three-point line, making just 5 of their 37 attempts on the night. Five foot nine guard Nate Robinson made just one of the 10 threes he attempted, while Al Harrington and former Sun Tim Thomas were both 2 for 8 from threeland.
The Suns, who led by as many as 17 points early on, dominated the post and won the rebound battle against a tough New York frontcourt. Shaquille O’Neal returned after missing the past two games and finished with 23 points, 12 rebounds, and made 11 of his 18 free throws.
Amar’e Stoudemire added 21 points along with his game-high 14 rebounds, and all five starters scored in double-digits. Steve Nash contributed 21, Grant Hill had 11, and the newest Sun, Jason Richardson, scored 16 points with seven rebounds.
Richardson had the hot hand from behind the three-point arc, making 4 of 7, and the Suns shot 40.9 percent as a team from long-range.
Jared Dudley, who came along with Richardson in the trade from Charlotte, is still yet to see more than 2 minutes of garbage time (Friday against Orlando) in a Phoenix uniform. There is less urgency to establish his role, so it’s likely he won’t be placed in the rotation until he’s completely up to speed with the team.
It was the first time that the new starting lineup for the Suns took the floor together since the acquisition of Richardson, and the chemistry already seemed to be growing. O’Neal found Richardson from the post for a wide-open three-pointer twice in the first quarter, two of his four assists on the evening.
For the fourth game in a row, the Suns have scored 110 points or more, and are averaging 107.6 points per game in the month of December. The offense seems to be a bit more free-flowing, and head coach Terry Porter is making adjustments to allow the offense to run while still emphasizing a structured defense.
The Suns (15-10) have won four of their last five games, and will get the next two days off before traveling to Portland Thursday to take on the Trailblazers (15-10). In their first two meetings of the season in Phoenix, the Suns won 107-96 on November 1, and then again three weeks later 102-92.
The Suns have won eleven straight over the Blazers, which is the longest active streak for one team over another in the NBA.
Blazers to recognize Porter
The Portland Trailblazers will retire Suns head coach Terry Porter’s number 30 jersey on Tuesday night when they play the Sacramento Kings.
Porter helped lead the Blazers to the NBA Finals twice, in 1990 and 1992, and is the franchise’s all-time assists leader (5,319). He also ranks second in scoring (11,330) all-time for Portland and minutes played (23,978).
Two nights later, when the Suns visit Portland, the Blazers will again retire the number 30, that time to honor another former Blazer, Bobby Gross.
It will be only the third jersey in NBA history that is retired to honor multiple players.
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