Phoenix Suns Team Report - December 8

(Basketball News) - The surprising Phoenix Suns go for their third straight win tonight, as they visit Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center.

This is the second meeting of the season between the two squads. On November 19, Phoenix knocked off the Lakers, 107-102, at America West Arena. Overall, the home team has won 12 of the last 16 contests in this series. The Suns have lost 10 of 12 and 15 of their last 18 at the Lakers.

On Tuesday, Amare Stoudemire tallied 33 points and 11 rebounds and the Suns used a 21-0 run in the fourth quarter to defeat the Golden State Warriors, 118-104, at America West Arena. Steve Nash poured in 26 points and 11 assists for Phoenix, which has captured 11 of their last 12 games. With an overall mark of 15-3, the Suns are off to their best start since the 1993-94 campaign, when they also won 15 of their first 18 games. Shawn Marion added 23 points in the victory.

The Suns trailed Golden State 92-85 with over 10 minutes to play in regulation, but used an amazing 21-0 run to go ahead 106-92. After 12 straight points gave them the lead with six minutes left, Nash nailed a three-pointer to stake the Suns to an eight-point advantage. On the Warriors next possession, a steal by Marion led to a flagrant foul.

Marion hit from the charity stripe and when the Suns got the ball back due to the nature of the infraction, they couldn’t score. However, on offensive foul on Golden State gave the ball right back to Phoenix and Stoudemire connected from the paint for a 103-92 lead before a trey by Joe Johnson capped the tremendous surge at 4:34. Golden State went seven minutes and 17 seconds without a field goal. The run was too much for the Warriors, who were outscored 35-17 in the final stanza.

Stoudemire has scored in double-digits in all 18 of the Suns’ games this season. He has recorded six double-doubles.

The Suns are 8-1 as the visitor this season.