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No Steve, no Amare, no problem
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Matt Barnes had a team-high five assists in their victory over the
Grizzlies Tuesday night, Dec. 30, 2008. (AP Photo: Jim Weber)
It was a bit of a problem really, but a 31-11 fourth quarter fueled the Phoenix Suns to a 101-89 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night.
Already going into the game without starting point guard Steve Nash due to back spasms (see here), the Suns lost All-Star forward Amar’e Stoudemire in the second quarter when he received his second technical foul of the contest.
Shaquille O’Neal recorded his second double-double in as many nights finishing with 24 points and 13 rebounds, and Leandro Barbosa filled in at point guard with a team-high 28 points.
Before his ejection, Stoudemire had eight points and four rebounds in just 11 minutes. He disputed a call in the second quarter that earned him his third foul, and referee Bill Kennedy assessed the first technical for the argumentative display. Stoudemire continued at Kennedy after the technical, at which point the referee handed him the second technical foul, resulting in his dismissal.
The Suns held the lead just once in the first half of the game (11-10) and found themselves down eight points going into the final period. But the Grizzlies went ice cold in the fourth making just 3 of their final 17 shot attempts, and the Suns outscored them by 20 to end the game.
Memphis rookie standout O.J. Mayo was just 4 for 20 from the field with 12 points, with a bulk of misses in the final quarter. Hakim Warrick led the Grizzlies with 25 points off the bench, and rookie center Marc Gasol added 16 along with 13 rebounds.
For the second night in a row, new Suns Jared Dudley and Dee Brown saw significant time in reserve roles, Brown with 15 minutes and Dudley playing just over 13. Neither shot or scored much, but Brown managed two points and two assists while Dudley had three points and a rebound.
The surprise production came from sparsely used Louis Amundson who contributed 10 points and eight rebounds (three offensive) in just 18 minutes of court time.
The back-to-back wins give the Suns a winning record (7-5) in the month of December, and tonight marked their tenth straight victory over the Grizzlies.
Phoenix (18-12) aims to be back to full strength when they take on the Los Angeles Clippers (8-21) at home Friday night. It will be the first meeting of the Pacific Division opponents this season, and the only Western Conference team the Suns have yet to face this year.
Big Diesel inches up NBA’s All-Time scoring list
For the second night in a row, Shaquille O’Neal climbed past another NBA legend on the all-time scoring list. Now with 26,715 career points, the Shaq Attack passed Oscar Robertson (26,710) for eighth place. On Monday in Oklahoma City, O’Neal scored a team-high 28 to move past Dominique Wilkins (26,668) for ninth.
