NBA Game Summary - New York at Phoenix

Phoenix, AZ (Basketball News) - Steve Nash scored 19 points and dished out nine assists to lead the Phoenix Suns over the New York Knicks, 85-81, at America West Arena.

Raja Bell added 17 points and Shawn Marion had 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Suns, who won their ninth straight contest. Eddie House recorded 15 points off the bench for Phoenix, which won despite not hitting a shot from the field over the final 6:24 of the game.

Stephon Marbury had a game-high 28 points, but it was not enough for the Knicks, who have dropped two straight and four of five.

The game was close throughout and went into the fourth quarter tied 64-64. However, Phoenix scored the first four points of the stanza, both on House jumpers, and later extended to an 80-72 advantage on Bell’s three-pointer just before the midway point of the quarter.

New York responded by scoring seven of the next nine points to make it a one possession game. Marbury’s jumper with 2 1/2 minutes left drew the Knicks within 82-79.

The teams then went back-and-forth a number of times, coming up empty on each try. New York could have made it a one-point game with 22 seconds left, but Marbury missed a runner and Kurt Thomas came down with the rebound and was fouled by Marbury.

The foul did not result in free throws, but on the ensuing inbounds pass Leandro Barbosa was fouled by Malik Rose with 19.4 seconds on the clock. Barbosa hit 1-of-2 from the line to make it a two-possession contest, 83-79.

Marbury did hit a layup with 10 seconds left, but Nash hit both free throws with 9.4 left to ice the game.

Thomas, who came to the Suns in an offseason trade from the Knicks, ended with two points and 12 rebounds.

New York’s Quentin Richardson, who came to the Knicks in the trade, continues to be away from the team as he tends to personal business in Chicago. Richardson’s brother was shot dead earlier this week and the funeral will be on Saturday.

New York rookie Channing Frye, who played college ball at the University of Arizona, ended with eight points and nine rebounds. Fellow rookie Nate Robinson had 14 points. He was also apart of the Thomas-Richardson trade.