NBA Game Summary - Memphis at Phoenix

Phoenix, AZ (Basketball News) - Shawn Marion finished with 26 points and 13 rebounds and Quentin Richardson added 22 points, as the top-seeded Phoenix Suns downed the Memphis Grizzlies, 114-103, in Game 1 of the Western Conference quarterfinals at America West Arena.

Game 2 of the opening-round matchup will take place Wednesday night in Phoenix.

Steven Hunter netted 16 points off the bench in the win and Joe Johnson added 16 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Also, Steve Nash, a leading candidate for the league’s MVP Award, recorded 11 points and 13 assists.

The Suns, who hit a franchise playoff-record 15 three-pointers, are back in the postseason after a one-year absence. In its last appearance in the playoffs in 2003, Phoenix was eliminated by the San Antonio Spurs in six games. However, this is a much-improved Suns team, one that tied a franchise record with 62 wins.

Mike Miller had 19 points and Jason Williams netted 17 to lead the Grizzlies, who are appearing in the playoffs for the second straight year as well as the second time in franchise history. Memphis, which was swept by San Antonio in last year’s opening round, dropped to 0-5 all-time in the postseason.

Pau Gasol chipped in 16 points and seven rebounds for Memphis, which was outrebounded 48-46.

The majority of the first quarter was close and the Grizzlies actually held a 21-20 advantage when Miller drilled a three-pointer with 4:16 remaining. However, Phoenix closed the quarter on a 19-7 burst to take a double-digit lead. Marion had eight points in the run and Jim Jackson added a pair of three-pointers. It was a Jackson shot from beyond the arc that capped the run and gave Phoenix a 39-28 edge after 12 minutes.

However, the Grizzlies opened the second quarter with a 10-3 run of their own and cut the deficit to four points. Gasol hit a pair of baskets in the stretch and his jumper in the lane made it 42-38 with 6:20 remaining.

Memphis was within three after James Posey’s basket cut it to 53-50 with 1:36 remaining, but the Suns scored the half’s final six points. Hunter kicked off the run with a dunk at the 1:23 mark and Richardson and Nash each hit a set of free throws to make it a 59-50 game at the break.

The Grizzlies cut the deficit to 64-59 on Lorenzen Wright’s basket with 9:45 left in the third, but Phoenix answered that with a 9-0 run to open a 14- point advantage. Marion scored five points in the run and hit 1-of-2 shots from the foul line to make it 73-59 with 8:29 remaining.

Memphis would get back in the game and slice the deficit to 81-76 after Miller’s three-pointer with 2:02 remaining in the third. However, the Suns responded and would hold an 87-78 lead after three quarters.

Phoenix kept the pressure on in the fourth quarter, never allowing the Grizzlies to get closer than seven points. The Suns’ biggest lead of the game came after Amare Stoudemire’s set of free throws made it 107-91 with 4:18 remaining. The Suns cruised to the victory from that point.