Fri Mar 28 22:03:29 2008

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Stoudemire, Suns scorch surging Sixers

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Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Amare Stoudemire scored 22 points, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked five shots to lead the Phoenix Suns in a 107-93 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wachovia Center.

Raja Bell poured in 20 points and doled out seven assists for the Suns, who snapped a two-game skid and sit one game behind the San Antonio Spurs for sixth place in the Western Conference and a game behind the Lakers for the top spot in the Pacific Division. The Spurs are hosting Minnesota on Friday and the Lakers are hosting Memphis.

Leandro Barbosa and Boris Diaw chipped in 17 points apiece. Shaquille O'Neal ended with 15 points and 13 boards, while Steve Nash dished out 10 helpers and scored five points.

Andre Miller tallied 16 points and 10 assists for the Sixers, who saw their three-game win streak halted and fell to seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings, a half game behind Toronto, which defeated the Knicks on Friday.

Louis Williams ended with 15 points and Andre Iguodala 13 for Philadelphia, which had won seven of its last eight entering the affair. Rodney Carney totaled 12 points, while Reggie Evans had 10 and 13 boards. Willie Green was a perfect 5-of-5 from the line to end with nine points.

A Calvin Booth jumper brought the Sixers within 10, however, the Suns rattled off seven unanswered points to take a 92-75 advantage with 8:42 left in regulation.

A Carney layup closed it to 96-82 for Philadelphia, but the Suns made it a 21- point cushion, all but sealing the deal, on Bell's jumper just prior to the three-minute mark.

The Sixers began the game shooting 0-13 from the floor, en route to trailing 38-19 after the first quarter.

Eight different Suns scored in the opening frame.

Despite trailing by as many as 24 in the second, a 10-3 Philly run led to the Sixers trailing 61-44 at the break. Green scored the last four points on the run, with Miller, Williams and Iguodala each adding a bucket.

After trading shots for most of the third, two free throws from Green and an Iguodala three-point play pulled the Sixers as close as 73-60 just past the midway point of the third stanza.

Phoenix increased its lead to 17, but Iguodala connected on 2-of-2 from the line and Williams nailed a three from the right wing to pull Philadelphia within a dozen.

After stopping the Suns on their next possession, Williams' layup made it 77-67 with just over two minutes left in the third.

The Suns went up 84-71 heading into the final 12 minutes of play.

Game Notes

The Sixers were 1-of-8 from behind the arc. Phoenix was 9-of-20 from downtown...Philadelphia is 21-16 at home this season. The Sixers had won four in a row as the host coming into Friday's contest. Phoenix is 22-14 on the road this season...Phoenix is 25-2 when holding its opponent under 100 points this season...Attendance was 20,707.