NBA Game Summary - Phoenix at Charlotte

12.30.2005

Charlotte, NC (Basketball News) - Eddie House poured in 26 points off the bench, while Steve Nash scored 24 and dished out 13 assists as Phoenix posted a 110-100 road victory over Charlotte.

Shawn Marion racked up 24 points and 13 rebounds, and Boris Diaw and Kurt Thomas also recorded double-doubles for the Suns, who are now 3-0 on their current five-game road swing. Diaw compiled 11 points and 12 boards, while Thomas finished with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

Keith Bogans netted 18 points and Gerald Wallace had 15 along with nine rebounds for Charlotte, which was shooting for the first three-game win streak in franchise history.

Phoenix outrebounded the Bobcats 51-33 for the night and pulled away with a strong fourth quarter.

The Suns trailed 89-87 with under eight minutes to play before Nash ignited a 7-0 run with back-to-back driving layups. Consecutive three-pointers by House and James Jones shortly afterward gave Phoenix a 103-94 lead, and Diaw scored inside with 2:36 left to extend the margin to 11 points.

The Bobcats led 43-38 with five minutes to go in the first half following a 7-0 run, with the first six points coming from Matt Carroll. However, Phoenix countered with an 8-0 spurt over the next two minutes to build a three-point edge.

Nash fed Thomas for a layup and then sank 1-of-2 free throws with 25 seconds remaining before the break to put the Suns ahead 56-51, but Charlotte’s Raymond Felton was fouled by Marion with four seconds left and sank both attempts to make it a three-point game at intermission.

House, who was waived by the Bobcats last season, led all first-half scorers with 14 points, 12 of which came in the second quarter. He went 5-of-7 from the field.

Phoenix built an eight-point lead late in the third quarter, but Charlotte closed out the frame with seven straight points. Bogans buried a shot from beyond the arc and scored in transition seconds later to pull the hosts within 81-80 heading into the final 12 minutes.

A three-pointer by Jumaine Jones followed by Bogans’ layup with 8:33 remaining gave the Bobcats their first edge of the second half at 87-85.

Charlotte’s Kareem Rush returned to action after missing four straight games with a sprained index finger. He ended with 11 points...Phoenix improved to 8-4 on the road...The Bobcats are 1-6 at home thus far against Western Conference opponents...Charlotte made 10-of-20 three-point field goals, with Bogans draining 3-of-4 attempts from long distance.

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