NBA Game Summary - Portland at Phoenix

01.18.2004

Phoenix, AZ (Basketball News) - Joe Johnson hit the game-winning shot with 18.1 seconds left and finished with 25 points to lead Phoenix to a 96-92 win over Portland at America West Arena.

Shawn Marion posted 22 points, 16 boards and seven assists for the Suns, who matched a season-high with their third straight win. Leandro Barbosa scored 20 points in the win.

"We’re on a streak. Break us up," Suns head coach Mike D’Antoni joked. "We didn’t play great in the sense of shooting, but I think we did other things."

Zach Randolph had 25 points and 11 boards for the Trail Blazers, who have dropped a season-high five consecutive contests. Rasheed Wallace netted 19 points in the setback.

The Trail Blazers led by three after three quarters and maintained a slim cushion throughout most of the fourth period.

However, a pair of Jake Voskuhl free throws with just over three minutes remaining gave the Suns a 90-89 lead. Portland, though, countered with three straight points to seize a 92-90 advantage with 1:48 left, but the Blazers would not score again.

Marion’s basket with 1:21 left tied the score at 92-92 and Johnson’s putback with 18.1 seconds remaining gave the Suns a 94-92 advantage.

Wallace had a chance to tie, but missed a turnaround jumper with 8.4 seconds left and Marion was immediately fouled two seconds later. He drained both free throws to make it 96-92.

"Well, we had some shots down the stretch," Portland head coach Maurice Cheeks said. "We just couldn’t finish those shots, just couldn’t convert, just couldn’t make them."

Randolph then missed a shot from in close and Jahidi White grabbed the rebound to seal the win.

Phoenix led 16-8 on a pair of Barbosa free throws midway through the first quarter and the advantage was 26-21 after one period.

In the second, the Trail Blazers tied the game at 28-28 on Ruben Patterson’s jumper early in the frame. Portland claimed a 42-41 edge on Wallace’s three later in the quarter and carried a 51-48 lead into the locker room.

Wallace had 13 points, while Marion and teammate Amare Stoudemire each scored 14 in the opening 24 minutes.

The teams played even in the third quarter and Portland led 74-71 after 36 minutes.

Portland has lost three straight and six of its last seven road games...Phoenix has won three straight home games against the Blazers...Stoudemire had 16 points before leaving in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury.

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