Barbosa outshines McGrady as Suns beats Rockets
(AP)Updated: 2007-03-13 15:52
The "Brazilian blur" keeps making his case for the NBA's sixth man of the year award. He'll get no argument from the Houston Rockets. Leandro Barbosa matched his career best with his second 32-point performance in three games and the Phoenix Suns improved to 10-1 since the All-Star break with a 103-82 rout of Houston on Monday night.
"I've never seen anybody as fast as this kid," the Rockets' Tracy McGrady said. "He's unbelievable. He's really Speedy Gonzalez out there. He's playing out of his mind right now."
|
|
With Dallas losing at Golden State on Monday, Phoenix is 3 1/2 games behind the Mavericks for best record in the NBA. The Suns, who completed a 5-0 homestand, play at Dallas on Wednesday night.
Phoenix had been winning ugly, but not in this one, taking control early, then turning the game into a blowout in the fourth quarter. Boris Diaw added 15 points for the Suns, who had six players in double figures.
Suns coach Mike D'Antoni wasn't around to see the end of his 200th NBA career victory. He drew two quick technicals from referee Ron Olesiak with 5:28 left in the third quarter for his first ejection in two seasons.
"We were friends at halftime," D'Antoni joked. "I don't know what happened. The relationship just went downhill in the second half. I just said a couple of things I shouldn't have said. He should have tossed me. It happens. We're all kids out there."
McGrady, defended by Marion most of the night, scored 19 on just 8-for-28
shooting.
"I was trying to be in his face as much as possible," Marion said,
"contest every shot he got and try not to give him any easy baskets, and I did a
good job of that."
Yao Ming, who scored 37 in a home victory over Orlando on Sunday, had his usual difficult night against the Suns' fast-paced style. The big center scored 10 points but made only 1-of-9 shots in 30 frustrating minutes.
In a 2-minute, 37-second stretch of the fourth quarter, Yao had consecutive
shots blocked by Kurt Thomas, was called for a three-second violation twice and
was whistled for two offensive fouls. He dejectedly went to the bench for good
with 7 minutes to play.
"They made it very hard on Yao," Houston coach
Jeff Van Gundy said.
The Suns, McGrady said, are not a team to play on
the second night of consecutive games.
"It's tough, man, especially when
you've got to play a team as fast as they are on a back-to-back," he said.
"You've got to be fresh mentally and physically strong to face them."
Barbosa made 12-of-18 shots and missed his last two.
"I'm just
having fun and trying to do the best I can every time, trying to make plays," he
said. "I learned a lot of things from (Steve) Nash, and the coaches have a lot
of confidence in me. I think that's a big key for me."
Juwan Howard made
all seven of his shots and finished with 14 points for Houston.
The Suns
were impressed with D'Antoni's emotional exit.
"He stomped out of there
like a raging animal," Marion said.
Amare Stoudemire, who has 14
technicals this season, laughed when reminded that D'Antoni had talked to him
about controlling himself on the court.
"Hey, sometimes it's the heat of
the moment," Stoudemire said. "I'm pretty sure he understands my pain now. He
was hot."
After D'Antoni's ejection, Yao made the two free throws to cut
the lead to 64-58. On the Rockets' next possession, though, Marion blocked Yao's
shot, leading to two free throws by Barbosa. Marion's subsequent dunk on a pass
from Stoudemire boosted the lead to 68-58 with 2:41 1eft in the third quarter.
After the Rockets cut it to 63-67, Phoenix outscored Houston 7-3 to end
the quarter. Barbosa's 3-pointer with 21.2 seconds left put the Suns ahead 74-66
entering the final period.
The Rockets never got any closer in the
fourth quarter. Steve Nash's driving layup with 2:45 to play put Phoenix ahead
95-75.
|
||
|
||
|
|