NBA Game Summary - Phoenix at Houston

04.4.2005

Houston, TX (Basketball News) - Shawn Marion scored 23 points with 18 rebounds to lead the Phoenix Suns over the Houston Rockets, 91-78, at the Toyota Center.

Joe Johnson added 19 points and Jim Jackson scored 15 for the NBA-leading Suns, who have won five straight and nine of their last 11 games overall.

Suns center Amare Stoudemire played just 27 minutes because of foul trouble. He finished with nine points and 14 rebounds. Steve Nash finished with double- digit assists (11) for the 14th straight game, the longest such streak since Mark Jackson’s 14-game

Yao Ming collected 19 points and 12 assists to lead the Rockets after sitting out a loss to New Orleans on Friday because of a calf bruise.

Ryan Bowen added 14 points and Tracy McGrady scored 13 on just 6-of-21 shooting for Houston, which remained in sixth place in the Western Conference with its second straight loss and third setback in five games.

Phoenix ended the third quarter on a 7-0 run to take a 69-62 lead into the fourth.

The Rockets pulled within 71-69 on a Scott Padgett three-pointer with 8:52 remaining in the game. But Jackson responded with a three at the other end and scored five straight Phoenix points after that to give the Suns a 78-71 lead with 6:14 left.

Houston would not be closer the rest of the way.

Phoenix held the first half’s largest lead at six points, but the Rockets carried a 42-41 edge into the break behind 11 points apiece from McGrady and Yao.

Phoenix has won 11 of 12 and 15 of its last 17 road games overall...The Suns have won eight of the last 14 meetings in this series...Houston shot 34 percent to Phoenix’s 44 percent.

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