Suns Lose, Eastern Conference road sweep non-existent now
Missing Shawn Marion (bruised hand/quad), you'd think the Suns could still handle a very young and raw Philadelphia 76ers team. Well, think again...
Phoenix never led in the game and lost their bid to become the first team to sweep the Eastern Conference on the road (for a full season). Philly dominated in a 99-94 victory. The Suns, led by Steve Nash, tried to mount a late comeback to win the game, but the 76ers were just too much in the end.
Without Marion, Amare Stoudemire picked up some slack finishing w/ 31 pts, 14 rbs & 6 TO's (ouch). Nash finished with 23/9, while shooting 3/4 from 3-pt range. No other Suns player scored more than 13 points. Kurt Thomas helped on the boards, finishing w/ 10.
Philly was led by Andre Igoudala's 24 pts, 7 boards & 7 assists (& 7 TO's offset Amare's), and Willie Green (who?) w/ 20 pts.
The Suns really missed Marion's hussle and scrappiness... Philly won the battle of the boards 50-37, and shot 6 more times than Phoenix thanks to 16 offensive rebounds.