Suns win 11th straight vs. Raptors
November 15, 2009
PHOENIX (AP)—Amare Stoudemire followed one of the worst games of his careerwith his best game of the season, scoring 30 points to lead Phoenix to a 101-100victory over Toronto on Sunday night, the Suns’ 11th straight win over theRaptors.
The Suns improved to an NBA-best 9-2, winning their 13th in a row at home.
They are the only team in the league to score at least 100 points in everygame this season and they have scored at least 100 in 30 straight home games.They also are 18-3 at home since Alvin Gentry became coach.
Phoenix Suns' Grant Hill(n… AP – Nov 15, 9:27 pm EST Toronto Raptors' Chris Bos… AP – Nov 15, 8:52 pm EST
Phoenix Suns' Channing Fry… AP – Nov 15, 8:51 pm EST
Phoenix Suns' Steve Nash(n… AP – Nov 15, 8:43 pm EST YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index = 3; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_lazy_images = [http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091116/capt.04c495ac14734218889a094caf4407f0.raptors_suns_basketball_azal102.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=305&hc=339&q=70&sig=H26pPVzLxoqvKv9m1L1MCw--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091116/capt.7f93928185674d1c83d50e546c47f0e4.raptors_suns_basketball_azal103.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=229&hc=254&q=70&sig=9l__D2IAJLzioBw7eq.NiQ--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091116/capt.1fd5930e3c444edd9c1a5c987c935427.raptors_suns_basketball_azal101.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=216&hc=240&q=70&sig=Cl17gPPKMZV3z.HO7iyiDQ--]; YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(window,load,YAHOO.Sports.articleLazyLoadCarousel.init); 1 of 4 Tor-Pho Gallery function prev_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index > 0) { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index – 1); } else { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index); }}function next_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index 0) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next); }*/}function goto_photo(p) { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { for(i = 0; i < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos.length; i++) { if (i == p) { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, ); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, none); } } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page) { YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page.innerHTML =(p + 1); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = p; } } update_buttons();}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init = function () { YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_prev, click, prev_photo); YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_next, click, next_photo); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = 0; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page = YAHOO.util.Dom.get(carousel_page); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos = YAHOO.util.Dom.getElementsByClassName(item, div, leadphoto); if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { goto_photo(0); }}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init();
Steve Nash(notes) had 23 points and nine assists, and Channing Frye(notes) added 20,hitting six 3-pointers. Chris Bosh(notes) led the Raptors with 25 points and 10rebounds. Hedo Turkoglu(notes) scored 20 points, and Andrea Bargnani(notes) had 17.
The score was tied at 98 after a 3-pointer by Turkoglu with 1:34 remaining.He followed that with a 23-foot jumper, giving Toronto a 100-98 lead with 51.5seconds to go. However, Nash came through with a driving layup with 38.9 leftand when he was fouled by Jose Calderon(notes) he converted the foul shot for the finalscore.
After a sparkling, breakneck pace in the first period, when the Raptors led33-31, the speed and the scoring slowed considerably in the second quarter. Athalftime, Toronto led 53-50, with the help of 14 points and six rebounds fromBosh.
Nash and Stoudemire, both of whom played poorly in Thursday night’s 121-102loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, fared much better against Toronto in the firsthalf. Nash led all scorers with 15 points and all playmakers with six assists.Stoudemire, who shot a miserable 2-for-15 against the Lakers, had 12 points on5-of-7 shooting.
The game began extremely well for both teams. Only 4:17 had elapsed when 31points had been scored, with Phoenix leading 17-14. By the end of the quarter,the Suns were shooting 61.9 percent from the field (13 for 21), while theRaptors were at 57.7 percent (15 for 26).
Toronto maintained the lead throughout the third period, finishing thequarter ahead 79-77. Stoudemire continued to torment the Raptors inside, scoring11 points, and Frye kept the Suns close, hitting three 3s. But the Raptorswouldn’t cede the lead.
NOTES: Bosh leads the NBA in double-doubles with eight. He has scored 20 ormore points in 17 consecutive games dating to last season. Bosh also is 6 for 6on 3-pointers. … Prior to the game, the Suns led the league in 3-pointersmade, averaging 11.0 per game, and in 3-point field goal percentage, .462, afranchise record pace. … The Raptors did not make a free throw in the firstperod, attempting only one. … For the Suns, idle since Thursday, this wastheir first two-day break of the season.
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