NBA Game Summary - Philadelphia at Phoenix

03.31.2005

Phoenix, AZ (Basketball News) - Shawn Marion finished with 26 points and nine rebounds and Steve Nash recorded his first triple-double of the season, as the Phoenix Suns pounded the Philadelphia 76ers, 116-87, at America West Arena.

With the win and Sacramento’s loss to Detroit earlier Wednesday, the Suns clinched their first Pacific Division title since the 1994-1995 season.

Nash finished with 12 points, a career-high 13 rebounds and 12 assists for the Suns, who have won three straight and six of their last seven contests. Joe Johnson and Quentin Richardson each netted 20 points in the win, while Jim Jackson added 19.

Allen Iverson finished with 26 points and nine rebounds for the Sixers, who have dropped back-to-back contests. Chris Webber posted 12 points and six boards before leaving the game with a left shoulder injury in the third quarter.

Marc Jackson notched 11 points in the setback, while Rodney Rogers and Andre Iguodala chipped in 10 apiece.

Philadelphia now holds a slim one-game edge over Orlando for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Magic defeated Toronto on Wednesday.

The Suns held a 29-24 edge after one quarter of play and blew the game open in the second period. Phoenix outscored the Sixers 36-17 in the second to take a 24-point edge into the locker room at the half.

Philadelphia trailed by a 41-35 score midway through the second quarter, but Phoenix closed the period with a 24-6 explosion. Nash’s jumper started the run with 6:22 remaining and Johnson converted a layup with 27 seconds left to make it a 65-41 game at the half.

The Suns had four scorers in double figures at the half and it was Richardson that led the way with 16. Iverson paced the Sixers with 11 points.

Philadelphia sliced the lead to 71-55 after Samuel Dalembert’s basket with 6:11 left in the third, but Phoenix still held a 92-70 edge heading into the final quarter.

The Suns led by as many as 31 points in the fourth quarter and they cruised to the easy victory.

The Suns were playing without center Amare Stoudemire, who missed his second straight game with a left ankle injury...It was just the second triple-double of Nash’s career...The Suns shot 49 percent in the win and held Philadelphia to just 35 percent from the field...The Suns have won five of the last six matchups with the Sixers, including three straight in Phoenix.

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