Phoenix, Ariz.—December 15, 2009.  This time the Phoenix Suns made a double-digit lead stick as they defeated the San Antonio Spurs 116-104 at US Airways Center in downtown Phoenix.  On the road against the Denver Nuggets this past Sunday, the Suns gave up a 17-point lead to lose the game 105-99. 

Tonight’s win is Phoenix’s ninth straight home win this season.  The Suns are the only NBA without a loss at home this year.  Dating back to last season, the Suns have 17 consecutive home wins, which began March 14, 2009. 

Amar’e Stoudemire had three key steals to go with his 28 points and 14 rebounds.  Steve Nash added 25 points and dished out 13 assists.  Grant Hill scored 17 points and Channing Frye had 15 points, shooting 3-of-4 from behind the 3-point line.  Jason Richardson had three points, but grabbed seven rebounds and handed out three assists.  Richardson played the entire game with his shooting hand heavily bandaged.  Backup guard Goran Dragic contributed 18 points off the bench, hitting on 4-of-5 shots from long distance.  

Tim Duncan was high scorer of the game with 34 points.  Duncan matched Stoudemire with four offensive rebounds and 10 defensive rebounds for a total of 14 boards.  Roger Mason continues to shoot well in the Valley of the Sun, hitting five 3-pointers and scoring 19 points off the bench.  Last Christmas at US Airways Center, Mason buried a 3-pointer from the corner as time expired to beat the Suns, adding fuel to an already storied history between San Antonio and Phoenix.  Tony Parker added 15 points and DeJuan Blair had 12 points.  Starters Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess, along with 2008 NBA Sixth Man winner Manu Ginobili, were held to a combined 13 points between three. 

After leading by 11 points at the end of the first quarter and 15 points at the half, the Suns came out of the locker room flat.  Missed shots and turnovers allowed the Spurs to slowly chip away at the lead, scoring 32 points and holding the Suns to 22 points.  Within 15 seconds of opening the fourth quarter, the Spurs were within one point.  The Suns and Spurs traded the next few baskets as the fans began fearing history would repeat itself.  However, Frye, a newcomer to the Suns-Spurs legacy, had no fear and buried a 20-footer to make the score 95-90.  The Spurs didn’t get any closer as head coach George Papavich sat his starters for good with 2:55 left in the game. 

Phoenix head coach Alvin Gentry was happy with the win and the effort of his team.  “I thought we did a great job of just kinda hanging in there.  Thought we won the game with our defense really.  I thought we came up with big stops when we had to.  That took some of the pressure off the offense.  To me the important thing was that we hung in there and built the lead back up.”