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Suns sparkle, stop Sonics

Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash prepares to pass around Seattle's Reggie Evans (30) to Amare Stoudemire inside during the second quarter. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press
Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash prepares to pass around Seattle's Reggie Evans (30) to Amare Stoudemire inside during the second quarter. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

SEATTLE – Joe Johnson totaled 24 points and 10 rebounds, and Steve Nash and Shawn Marion combined for 43 points as the Phoenix Suns defeated the Seattle SuperSonics 112-110 Friday night in a showdown between the NBA’s top two teams.

Amare Stoudemire added 20 points and nine rebounds for Phoenix, which became the first club to 20 wins this season, but had to outlast the Sonics in an exciting fourth quarter.

Phoenix (20-3) led 107-104 with the clock running down when Seattle’s Luke Ridnour missed a 3-point try from the right wing with 11.9 seconds to play.

The Sonics (18-5) had moved the ball around the perimeter for three decent looks, but Rashard Lewis missed an inside try and Vladimir Radmanovic missed a 3-pointer during the possession.

Marion made two free throws, but Ray Allen bounced in a 3-pointer with 4 seconds to play to get Seattle within 109-107. Nash, who added 12 assists, was fouled immediately and hit both shots to give Phoenix a 111-107 lead.

The Suns needed every point, because Lewis took an inbounds pass and hit a 3-pointer with 0.5 seconds on the clock. Marion was fouled and added one free throw to seal the win.

Allen led Seattle with 32 points on 15-of-32 shooting. Lewis scored 25, and Reggie Evans added 13 points and 14 rebounds. Radmanovic scored 14 and Antonio Daniels had 11 for the Sonics.

Phoenix won its seventh straight game, as well as its seventh straight on the road to extend the team’s longest road winning streak since 1997-98.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, this also was the first meeting in almost five years between teams with better than .800 records after 20 games. The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Portland Trail Blazers 90-87 on Feb. 29, 2000.

Even stranger, neither the Suns nor Sonics reached the playoffs last season.

It had the feel of a playoff game, a sensation that Sonics fans haven’t experienced for three years. The sellout crowd of 17,072 was treated to a thrilling fourth quarter that didn’t quite swing in Seattle’s favor.

Seattle, which came in with the best home record in the NBA, lost for the second time in a week at KeyArena, following a loss to Boston last weekend.

The Sonics dictated the early tempo, opening a 16-point lead late in the first quarter. The Suns recovered, with Johnson scoring 12 points in the second period as Phoenix climbed back and trailed 57-55 at halftime.

Neither team could seize control through the third quarter, and the track meet was on in the fourth.

Seattle led 89-85 after Allen’s three-point play with 6:42 to play capped an 8-0 burst.

Phoenix tied it at 90 on a 3-pointer by Richardson. Seattle used a 12-5 burst to go up 102-95, forcing a Suns timeout with 3:08 remaining after Radmanovic scored on a banked-in 15-footer and rattled in a 3-pointer.

No lead lasted long, though, and Marion swished a 3-pointer and dunked on a fastbreak to get Phoenix within 102-100 with 2:35 to go.