|
Nash leads NBA Suns past Toronto in return to Canada
2009-01-18
TORONTO (AFP) - Steve Nash passed out a season-high 18 assists and scored nine points to power the Phoenix Suns past Toronto 117-113 Sunday, the Canadian guard continuing his mastery over his homeland's only NBA club. The Suns stretched their win streak over the Raptors to nine in a row with Nash improving to 18-2 lifetime against Toronto. Toronto's Anthony Parker, who scored 26 points playing in place of injured Spaniard Jose Calderon, pulled the Raptors within 114-113 on a layup with 1:17 to play but missed a 3-point attempt on Toronto's next possession. Nash then took the ball and raced up the middle to the basket and banked in a shot with 12 seconds remaining to give the Suns a 116-113 edge. Parker missed a layup attempt and Chris Bosh missed a follow-up try before Phoenix's Amare Stoudemire grabbed the ball and was fouled. Stoudemire scored the last of his game-high 31 points from the free throw line, hitting 1-of-2 to create the final margin. Shaquille O'Neal added 16 points and four rebounds for the Suns while Jason Richardson scored 17 points for Phoenix, which hit 43-of-79 shots from the field. Joey Graham added a career-high 22 points while Bosh had 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Raptors, who suffered their fifth loss in a row. Toronto last defeated Phoenix in February of 2004.
Knicks finally waive Marbury, ending bumpy stint (2009-02-24)Suns fire Porter after 4 months on the job (2009-02-17)Nash leads NBA Suns past Toronto in return to Canada (2009-01-18)Roy scores 52 points in Blazers' win (2008-12-19)Nash upset as Suns trade Bell, Diaw for Richardson (2008-12-11)
| 
