Suns remain perfect at home with win over weary Pistons

Source: Agencies | 2009-11-24 | NEWSPAPER EDITION

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THE Phoenix Suns routed the Detroit Pistons 117-91 on Sunday to preserve their perfect home record and improve to a joint NBA-best 11-3.

Amare Stoudemire scored 21 points and Steve Nash added 20 as Phoenix tied Orlando and Atlanta for the NBA's best record. Jason Richardson added 17 points and Nash also had nine assists.

Phoenix, a perfect 5-0 at home this season, was never threatened by the Pistons, who lost their fifth game in a row. It was a dismal end to Detroit's four-game road trip.

"It was the last game of this trip for them," Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry told reporters. "I thought we did a good job of trying to jump on them early and get off to a good start."

The Suns continued their torrid shooting pace and are the only team to score at least 100 points in every game this season. Phoenix shot 58 percent from the field and made 11 of 18 three-point attempts, while missing just three free throws.

Nash sat out the fourth quarter after Phoenix opened up a healthy lead after three.

"We did a good job tonight," Nash said. "We bounced back after a bad game last time out and really carried the game to them tonight."

Charlie Villanueva and rookie DaJuan Summers each scored 13 for the Pistons (5-9), who were again without the services of Richard Hamilton (ankle) and Tayshaun Prince (back). The duo have played a combined four games this season.

"There's no excuses in this league," Detroit coach John Kuester said. "You've got to be ready to go.

"Everybody keeps talking about the last game of the road trip. I think our frame of mind going into it was right. Sometimes you've got to lie to your body and just say: ?Hey, you've got to go.' Unfortunately, tonight we didn't have the juice that we've had."

In New York, Kevin Garnett made a jumper to beat the overtime buzzer, giving the Boston Celtics a 107-105 victory over the New York Knicks.

In Miami, Dwyane Wade had 31 points and Udonis Haslem hit a jumper with 15.4 seconds left to lift Miami 102-101 past Hornets.

Also, it was: Lakers 101, Thunder 85; Bobcats 104, Pacers 88; and Magic 104, Raptors 96.