RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
PHOENIX (AP) -- Shawn Marion continued to play the role of the
Phoenix Suns' late-game go-to guy.
Marion scored 18 points, including a layup with 2.1 seconds
remaining, as the Phoenix Suns beat the Miami Heat 84-82 Saturday
night for their sixth straight victory.
"Any one of the five guys on the court can take that shot,"
said Marion, who was 8-for-12 from the floor with a game-high 13
rebounds. "It's just a matter of who's open and who's got the ball
in their hands."
Clifford Robinson and Jason Kidd each scored 15 points, and Tony
Delk added 14 for the Suns, who squandered an 11-point halftime
lead before rallying in the fourth quarter.
Tim Hardaway scored 16 of his 19 points in the second half for
the Heat, who shot 38.4 percent from the floor. Anthony Mason
scored 18 points and Brian Grant had 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Grant, who spent much of the game on the bench in foul trouble,
hit two free throws to tie the game at 82 with 49 seconds left. But
with the shot clock winding down, Marion slipped past Bruce Bowen
and Grant along the baseline for a game-winning layup.
"I saw the clock winding down and I went to the basket,"
Marion said. "Luckily, my defender was asleep and I got the shot.
I made a good cut and Cliff fed the ball to me. Simple as that."
Hardaway's 22-footer at the buzzer bounced off the back of the
rim, and the Suns' earned their 17th consecutive home victory
against Eastern Conference teams.
"I was right there. I should have made that," Hardaway said.
"I had a good look. It should have gone in."
The Heat trailed 45-34 at halftime, but outscored the Suns 26-8
over the first 8:57 of the third quarter for a 60-53 lead. Bowen
led the Miami comeback with three 3-pointers, including two
straight to start the second half.
Hardaway hit a 3-pointer with 1.7 seconds left in the period to
give Miami a 65-61 lead.
"I take the blame for the first half," Hardaway said. "I
didn't come out aggressive. I need to set a tone for the team like
Jason does for his team, getting aggressive and going to the
hole."
But Delk scored five straight points, including the first of two
fourth-quarter 3-pointers, to put the Suns back in front, 66-65,
with 9:50 remaining.
The Heat regained the lead on basket by Hardaway and led 79-78
with 3:43 to go, when Hardaway was called for a flagrant foul on
Jason Kidd's layup attempt. Kidd made both free throws to give the
Suns a one-point lead, and Hardaway tied the game 80-80 on a free
throw with 1:27 remaining.
Delk was fouled and made a pair of free throws to give the Suns
an 82-80 lead with a minute remaining, and Grant tied it 11 seconds
later.
"We should have won it, even in the adverse situation," Grant
said. "We still had an opportunity to win. We just needed to get a
stop or two."
Grant picked up two early fouls and left the game with the Suns
leading 10-9 with 7:52 left in the first quarter. With Grant on the
bench, Phoenix pounded the ball inside and ended the period on a
19-6 run, with 12 of the points coming from inside five feet, for a
26-15 lead.
"I just wanted to make him take tough shots, keep him off the
free throw line and not let him get off to a big start," Robinson
said.
Grant returned to begin the second quarter and so did the Heat's
offense -- Miami opened the quarter with a 10-0 run to pull within
26-25 with 7:41 remaining. The Suns helped the Heat's run with six
missed shots and a pair of turnovers.
But Phoenix held Miami without a field goal over the final 4:23
of the first half and took a 45-34 halftime lead.
"The only way to win against Miami is to play good defense,"
said Suns coach Scott Skiles. "I think that, except for four
minutes in the third quarter, we played good defense tonight."
Game
notes
Kidd needed six stitches to close a cut under his right
eye. ... The Heat have not allowed more than 84 points in a game
this season. ... The Suns' last home loss to an Eastern Conference
opponent was March 26, 1999, against New York. ... The Suns have
won 21 of 25 games against the Heat. ... Phoenix coach Scott Skiles
said before the game that forward Tom Gugliotta could return to the
team as early as Wednesday, though he likely will be held out of
the lineup until Thanksgiving. Gugliotta injured his left knee in
March.
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NBA Scoreboard
Miami Clubhouse
Phoenix Clubhouse
RECAPS
New Jersey 126
Seattle 91
Indiana 94
Detroit 84
Cleveland 86
Washington 73
New York 81
Charlotte 67
Philadelphia 85
Boston 83
Toronto 98
Chicago 75
Minnesota 103
Milwaukee 92
San Antonio 91
Vancouver 78
Phoenix 84
Miami 82
Portland 111
Houston 88
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