NBA Game Summary - Phoenix at Memphis 05.1.2005
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Memphis, TN (Basketball News) - Joe Johnson poured in 25 points and Shawn Marion finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds, as the Phoenix Suns completed a sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies with a 123-115 victory in Game 4 of the Western Conference quarterfinals at the FedEx Forum.
Steve Nash added 24 points and nine assists for the Suns, who swept a best-of- seven series for the first time in franchise history. Phoenix’s last sweep came against Portland in a best-of-five set during the 1995 postseason.
The Suns are also in the conference semifinals for the first time since 2000. That year Phoenix beat San Antonio in the opening round before falling to the Los Angeles Lakers in the conference semis.
Jim Jackson netted 19 in the win and Amare Stoudemire chipped in 18.
Meanwhile, the Grizzlies were swept out of the playoffs for the second straight year and dropped to 0-8 all-time in the postseason. They lost in four games to San Antonio in last year’s opening round.
Pau Gasol recorded a game-high 28 points for Memphis and Jason Williams collected 20 points and eight assists. Dahntay Jones posted 14 points, while Mike Miller and Stromile Swift added 13 apiece.
The Grizzlies were without Bonzi Wells after the forward was disciplined for missing a team shootaround on Sunday morning. Wells was not even allowed to sit on the bench for Sunday’s loss.