With 42 assists, Suns put on a teamwork show to win fifth in a row

 

The Phoenix Suns flicked passes to each other all night, and the Washington Wizards struggled to keep up.
Each starter scored one of the Suns’ first five baskets Friday night and Phoenix finished with an NBA season-high 42 assists in a 122-107 win at Washington.
“When the ball moves like that,” Steve Nash said, “we’re difficult to guard.”
Nash had 19 assists, Amare Stoudemire scored 27 points and the Suns earned their fifth straight win.
In other games, it was: Boston 112, Toronto 84; New Orleans 118, Memphis 116 in overtime; San Antonio 104, Utah 98; Indiana 115, Orlando 109; Seattle 104, Milwaukee 98; Chicago 98, Detroit 91; Philadelphia 101, New York 90; Houston 96, New Jersey 89; the Los Angeles Clippers 97, Sacramento 87; and Golden State 120, Miami 113.
The Suns had six players in double figures. Nash finished with 12 points, Leandro Barbosa had 20 points and seven assists, Grant Hill had 18 points and eight assists, and Shawn Marion had 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Although they play – and win – as a team, the Suns are not without their stars.
“It all starts,” Marion said, “with Steve Nash.”
The two-time league MVP has at least 15 assists in each of the past four games and had seven in the third quarter alone Friday night.
The Suns made 17 of their 22 shots in that quarter and when they were done, so were the Wizards, down 100-76.
“Just incredible,” sighed Washington coach Eddie Jordan.
Celtics 112, Raptors 84
Kevin Garnett scored 23 points and Boston improved to 10-0 at home, the franchise’s best start at home since winning 12 straight to open the 1984-85 season.
Anthony Parker led the injury-riddled Raptors with 13 points.
Hornets 118, Grizzlies 116, OT
In New Orleans, Chris Paul hit a driving layup through a crowd of defenders with 1.8 seconds left in overtime.
Paul made five 3-pointers and scored 43 points, both career highs, to go with nine assists and four steals. He also made a pair of crucial free throws that tied it at 107 with 33.1 seconds left.
Spurs 104, Jazz 98
Manu Ginobili scored 37 points to lift San Antonio to its fifth straight victory, despite playing a second straight game without injured star Tim Duncan.
Tony Parker had a bad shooting night but added 16 points and Michael Finley contributed 15 for the Spurs, who haven’t lost to the Jazz at home since 1999.
Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer had 28 points apiece for Utah.
Pacers 115, Magic 109
In Orlando, Fla., Danny Granger scored a season-high 27 points and Jamaal Tinsley had 20 points and 10 assists for Indiana.
Dwight Howard led Orlando with 30 points and 15 rebounds. Rashard Lewis added 24 points and Keith Bogans had 14, but the Magic hit only 33.3 percent of their shots in the second half as the Pacers rallied from a 15-point deficit.
SuperSonics 104, Bucks 98
In Seattle, Kevin Durant matched his career high with 35 points, leading five Seattle players in double figures in a victory over Milwaukee.
Michael Redd finished with a season-high 41 points for the Bucks, who lost for the sixth time in seven games.
Bulls 98, Pistons 91
In Auburn Hills, Mich., Andres Nocioni scored 22 points and Ben Wallace added 10 points and 13 rebounds to lead Chicago, which has won four of its last five.
Luol Deng had 17 points and Joe Smith added 14 rebounds for the Bulls.
Chauncey Billups had 27 points and Richard Hamilton added 24 for Detroit.
76ers 101, Knicks 90
In Philadelphia, Samuel Dalembert scored 20 points, Lou Williams and Andre Iguodala each scored 15 and Philadelphia snapped a three-game losing streak.
Jamal Crawford scored New York’s first 16 points in the fourth and finished with 28 points. David Lee had 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Stephon Marbury returned to the Knicks’ lineup a day after attending the funeral of his father, Donald, who died Sunday night. Marbury briefly considered skipping the game, and scored only two points in the first half before spending the entire second half on the bench.
Rockets 96, Nets 89
Yao Ming had 25 points and 11 rebounds for Houston, and Tracy McGrady added 24 points.
Jason Kidd returned to the Nets’ lineup after a one-game absence, and finished with 10 points – eight in the fourth quarter – seven rebounds and seven assists.
Rafer Alston scored 15 points for the Rockets, who won for the fifth straight time in New Jersey.
New Jersey’s Vince Carter matched his season high with 32 points.
Clippers 97, Kings 87
In Sacramento, Calif., Chris Kaman had 26 points and 12 rebounds to help Los Angeles snap a seven-game losing streak.
Trailing by 11 points entering the third quarter, the Clippers took control in the second half behind the inside play of Kaman, who made nine of 12 shots and eight of 10 free throws.
Corey Maggette had 18 points and nine rebounds for Los Angeles, Tim Thomas had 17 points, Cuttino Mobley scored 12 and Ruben Patterson added 10.
Ron Artest scored 21 points for the Kings.
Warriors 120, Heat 113
In Oakland, Calif., Baron Davis scored 13 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter and Golden State rallied to its 11th win in 13 games.
The Heat led by 18 points, but were outscored 21-4 during a 4-minute stretch late in the fourth quarter that allowed Golden State to take its first lead of the game.
Stephen Jackson led the Warriors with 28 points, and Monta Ellis finished with 21.
Dwyane Wade scored a season-high 33 points for Miami.