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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
PHOENIX (AP) – Whew, this big-time scoring is hard work.
|  | | David Vanterpool and the rest of the Wizards couldn't keep up with Jason Kidd. |
Jason Kidd topped the 30-point mark for the third game in a row Tuesday night as the Phoenix Suns beat the Washington Wizards 105-91.
Kidd, who never had consecutive 30-point games before this stretch, scored 36 against Washington, his most in his five seasons with the Suns.
"When you're so offensive-minded it takes a lot out of you," Kidd said. "I've got to give Michael Jordan and all those guys who are offensive minded and who play defense some credit. It does take a lot out of you."
Kidd, whose career high is 38 points for Dallas against Houston
on April 11, 1995, scored 26 in the first half, then had six points
and two assists as the Suns finally put the game away with a late
13-0 run.
He was 11-for-24 from the field, 12-for-12 at the foul line and
had nine assists.
In his past three games, he's shot 52 percent from the field. Not bad for a player who is known as an excellent passer and so-so shooter.
"My job is to make them respect my game offensively," Kidd
said. "If I'm not doing that, then I'm not doing my job. Everybody
in the stadium knows I can pass the ball. My job is to have the
total package, being called upon to score when you have to, and
wanting the ball.
"I want the ball. I feel very comfortable right now with the ball in my hand. When I shoot it, I feel very confident that it's going in. This game is all about confidence."
Shawn Marion had 24 points and 11 rebounds for Phoenix. Cliff Robinson added 18 points.
Richard Hamilton scored 25 and Christian Laettner 18 as the Wizards fell to 4-19 against Western Conference opponents. One of
those victories came against Phoenix in Washington on Jan. 27
But the Suns hadn't lost to the Wizards in Phoenix since 1988.
Kidd's offense overcame a parade to the foul line by Washington in the first half.
The Wizards were 22-for-36 at the foul line in the first half, 18-for-26 in the second quarter alone. The Suns, meanwhile, were 11-for-12.
In the second half, the Wizards shot just six free throws, and made four.
Phoenix never trailed but couldn't finish off Washington until
midway through the fourth quarter. Mike Smith's 22-footer cut the
lead to 90-82 with 7:45 to play.
But Kidd scored three in a row, then dished off an assist to
Marion for a 3-pointer and another to Vinny Del Negro for a jumper.
Marion's stuff shot finished off the 13-0 run and the Suns led
103-82 with four minutes to go.
The Suns shot out to a 13-3 lead and were up 34-24 after one quarter.
The Wizards made 13 of 14 free throws to start the second quarter and cut Phoenix's lead to 45-43 on Hubert Davis' foul shot after a technical foul was called on reserve center Daniel Santiago.
Marion sank a 10-footer, then Kidd made a 17-footer and a 3-pointer in a 7-0 spurt that gave the Suns a 52-43 lead. Jahadi White missed four consecutive free throws for Washington during that stretch.
The Suns knew they would never have beaten a good team with their performance Tuesday.
"Right now what's happening for us, for whatever reason, is
defensively we're just not as sharp as we were early on," coach
Scott Skiles said. "We're not defending with the same urgency, and
we're going to need that coming up."
The Suns couldn't shake the Wizards in the third quarter until
three hustle plays by Kidd – a steal, a save on a ball flying out
of bounds and tying up Laettner for a jump – ignited a 9-0 run that
put Phoenix ahead 83-69 on Kidd's two free throws with 20.5 seconds
left in the quarter.
"We were definitely in the game, but they made some big shots
down the stretch and made their free throws and really knuckled
down," said Hamilton, who didn't play late in fourth quarter.
Washington coach Leonard Hamilton said his team lacked consistency.
"We made runs and we had spurts where we played well
offensively," he said. "We just couldn't put a whole quarter
together."
Game notes
Former President George Bush sat courtside next to Suns
owner Jerry Colangelo through the first half. ... Kidd had 16
points, four assists and two steals in the first quarter. ...
Robinson needs 10 points to reach 15,000 for his career. ... In the
first half, Phoenix had eight players with at least two fouls.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Washington Clubhouse
Phoenix Clubhouse
RECAPS
New York 110
Cleveland 75
New Jersey 104
Vancouver 90
Toronto 102
Indiana 81
Orlando 103
Chicago 95
Portland 96
Dallas 88
Phoenix 105
Washington 91
Utah 84
Detroit 79
LA Clippers 88
Philadelphia 77
Sacramento 125
Houston 109
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