Recap: Phoenix vs. New Jersey
Sports Network | November 30, 2008
Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - Devin Harris poured in a career-high 47 points to lead the New Jersey Nets to a 117-109 victory over the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center.
Harris was a perfect 17-of-17 from the foul line and hit on 14-of-25 field goal attempts to go along with eight assists and seven rebounds.
Vince Carter finished with 28 points and five assists for the Nets, who wrapped up a four-game west coast swing with consecutive wins against Sacramento, Utah and Phoenix to finish it 3-1.
Yi Jianlian donated 14 points to the cause, and Brook Lopez went for 12 with seven boards in getting the better of his brother Robin, who plays for the Suns.
It was New Jersey's first win in Phoenix in 15 years, having come up empty since it last posted a victory on March 19, 1993 -- just two short months after Bill Clinton was elected as the 42nd president of the U.S. and the dissolution of Czechoslovakia.
Amare Stoudemire had 25 points and 12 rebounds before being ejected with 3:24 left in the game after having words with officials following a brief tangle with Yi. He had earlier received a technical, and the ejection was automatic with his second.
The Suns had a three-game winning streak halted on Friday in a setback to the Heat and have now dropped consecutive games for the second time this season. Phoenix played without two-time MVP Steve Nash in the Miami loss due to a bruised right thigh, but had its superstar guard back in the lineup on Sunday, receiving 26 points and nine assists that went for naught.
Matt Barnes went for 18 points and grabbed eight caroms in the loss.
Down by 11 heading into the final frame, New Jersey opened the fourth quarter with an 11-3 spurt, with Harris going off for 10 straight Nets' points. Yi had three of the next four buckets for New Jersey, the last of which tied the game at 94-94 with 4:19 remaining.
Phoenix quickly regained the lead in what unfolded as a back and forth affair down the stretch, until a three from Carter and a Harris jumper gave the Nets a two-point edge with 2:11 to play. Brook Lopez followed with a dunk, and New Jersey had a 106-102 advantage with 1 1/2 minutes to play.
The Nets increased their lead to eight on six combined free throws from Harris and Brook Lopez. A Barnes three gave Phoenix hope with 27.9 seconds left, but Harris hit two more from the line, and Carter completed a three-point play that put the game out of reach.
The Suns got out to an early 35-24 lead after one quarter but New Jersey recovered to get within eight, 62-56, at the break with Yi draining a jumper at the buzzer.
The Nets deficit hovered in the single digits throughout the third before finishing the quarter down 11, 85-74.
The Nets improved to 6-3 away from the Meadowlands this season and snapped a streak of 14 straight losses in Phoenix...New Jersey has still lost 15 of 17 in the desert...The Suns posted a 114-86 win at New Jersey on November 4 this season and are 9-2 in the last 11 matchups...Phoenix is now 4-5 as the host this season...Robin Lopez hit on his only field goal attempt and snagged two boards in limited action.
