Recap: Golden State vs. Phoenix
Sports Network | March 23, 2010
Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Amare Stoudemire scored 18 of his 37 points in the final quarter, including seven straight during a crucial run, as Phoenix held on for a 133-131 win over the Golden State Warriors.
Jason Richardson added 34 points for the Suns, who tied a season-high by winning their fifth straight game. They are in fifth place in the Western Conference, a game behind Utah.
The Suns managed to pull through in the fourth quarter on short rest as they won at home over Portland Sunday night.
"We had a tough game last night," Stoudemire said. "I played 41 minutes, a lot of guys played a lot of minutes last night. We knew coming into today's game it was going to be a high-octane, up-tempo style of play. We were able to maintain effort and played well in the fourth quarter when we most needed it."
Monta Ellis had 30 points and six assists for the Warriors, who lost for a third straight time and are just 2-10 since the start of this month. Reggie Williams had a career-high 29 points, including 18 in the fourth quarter, and Anthony Tolliver tallied 25 with 12 rebounds in defeat.
"I'm learning that these guys are hard to stop," Tolliver said. "They're All- Stars for a reason, unless you have a team effort against guys like these it's pretty tough to stop them."
Williams hit consecutive three-pointers in the final quarter, the last one in the sequence putting the Warriors ahead 122-119 with 3:10 left. Stoudemire, who ended 12-of-15 from the field and 13-of-15 from the foul line, then took over the game. He scored on a thunderous right-handed jam, powering over Tolliver and converted the free throw to tie the game. Stoudemire then hit a driving layup and a jumper from the left baseline for a 126-122 Phoenix lead.
Golden State never caught up, but the Warriors had their chances, especially helped by two rare misses at the foul line from Steve Nash, the last one coming with 8.8 seconds left. That gave Golden State hope, down 132-129, but Phoenix fouled Ellis. He sank both shots, the second one off the glass with 4.3 seconds to go.
Stoudemire then made just 1-of-2 with 3.5 on the clock, but Ellis missed a potential winning shot from just inside halfcourt as time expired.
The Suns held a 33-31 lead after the first quarter and a 65-62 edge at the half. Phoenix was ahead for most of the third quarter, but Ellis' three- pointer pulled the Warriors within 99-98 going to the fourth.
Earlier in the day, the Warriors signed Williams for the remainder of the season and waived guard Raja Bell. The team also announced they have retained Galatioto Sports Partners to conduct the sale of the team. Oracle CEO Larry Ellison said earlier this year that he wanted to buy the team -- which plays in Oracle Arena -- and it now appears that he will have the opportunity...Phoenix ended 13-of-23 from behind the arc...Nash had 12 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds...Phoenix has won six of the last seven meetings.
