Phoenix Suns Team Report - January 28

(Basketball News) - Shawn Marion scored 22 points to lead the Phoenix Suns to an 89-85 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday at Philips Arena.

Joe Johnson added 20 points and seven assists for the Suns, who snapped a three-game losing streak. Casey Jacobsen contributed 13 points in the win.

Phoenix trailed 42-36 at halftime, but came back in the third quarter by outscoring Atlanta 30-17 in the period.

The Hawks led 46-38 early in the quarter, but Phoenix reeled off an 18-2 spurt to gain an eight-point edge midway through the period. Leandro Barbosa began the run with a three and five straight points from Marion tied the score at 46-46.

After two free throws by Jake Voskuhl put the Suns ahead, Marion and Johnson each hit jump shots to stretch the cushion to six. Theo Ratliff temporarily stopped the bleeding with two free throws for the Hawks, but four straight points, capped by Marion’s dunk, culminated the huge run and made it 56-48.

Phoenix led 66-59 after three periods.

Atlanta began the fourth on an 8-0 run, keyed by six from Shareef Abdur-Rahim, to grab a 67-66 lead. However, the Suns scored five straight points, capped by Marion’s dunk, to take a 71-67 edge with 6:36 left.

Marion’s dunk with 2:52 remaining in the game extended Phoenix’s margin to 79-73, but four straight Atlanta points brought the Hawks within two.

Howard Eisley’s three-pointer, though, with 1:44 left staked the Suns to an 82-77 lead. Atlanta did close within 85-83 on a pair of free throws by Jacque Vaughn with 10.8 seconds left, but Marion was then fouled and he made both free throws to increase the lead to four.

After a quick basket by Abdur-Rahim made it 87-85, Jacobsen sealed the win with two free throws with 7.3 seconds remaining.

Johnson has scored in double digits in eight straight contests. He has also posted 20 or more points in nine of his last 11 games.

The Suns visit Jermaine O’Neal and the Indiana Pacers tonight.