PHOENIX—Steve Kerr talked, the Phoenix Suns listened.
Then for one night at least, the team again looked like the triple-digit darlings of the NBA.
The 137-115 rout of the worn-out Denver Nuggets Monday night should quiet, for now, concerns about possible chemistry problems in Phoenix, where the team has been winning but not against the best teams.
“I think reports of our death were over-exaggerated,” coach Mike D’Antoni said.
Kerr downplayed his role in the romp.
“It’s a standard thing in the NBA,” he said. “Periodically during the year you have something to talk about.”
In the only other game in the NBA on Monday night, the Warriors beat the Spurs 130-121 in overtime.
The Suns tied their franchise record with 20 3-pointers—in 31 attempts—one shy of the NBA record of 21 set by Toronto in 2005. Phoenix entered the game 1-6 against Western Conference teams that would make the playoffs if the regular season ended now.
“We’re 2-6 now, if anybody’s counting,” D’Antoni said.
Shawn Marion scored a season-high 27 points and tied his career bests with five 3s and six blocked shots.
Marcus Banks, who has played his way out of D’Antoni’s doghouse and back into the Suns’ rotation, made a career-high seven 3s—in eight attempts—en route to a season-best 23 points.
There had been speculation the Suns would like to trade Banks and his five-year, $21.3 million contract.
“I do want to keep him and keep him in the rotation,” D’Antoni said. “He’s earned it.”
Nash said that he hopes the talk had an influence on the game.
“But you can’t expect Steve to make a Knute Rockne everyday,” Nash said. “Hopefully, we’re capable of being professional.”
After four games in five nights, the Nuggets were in no shape to match the highly motivated Suns. Phoenix’s final few 3s came near the end, with the outcome long since concluded.
“They got happy and they got cocky and they rubbed our faces in the game a little bit,” Denver coach George Karl said. “It will be fun the next time we play them.”
The Suns jumped out to a 17-6 lead, were up by 23 in the second quarter and 25 in the third in their best offensive showings of the season after a disappointing 118-113 home loss to New Orleans on Saturday.
Marion made 11 of 15 shots and had 14 rebounds before leaving with 4:23 to play. The five 3-pointers, all of which came in the first half, matched a career-high. He equaled his career high with the six blocks. It was the fifth time Marion has had five 3s or six blocks.
Banks, who has fallen out of favor with D’Antoni on numerous occasions, has earned his way into the rotation with his play in the last three games.
“What he needs to do, and he’s doing it, is learn how not to foul in crucial times, how not to turn it over, how not to jack one up and be a real team guy,” D’Antoni said, “and he’s trying.”
Banks said he hoped for more playing time.
“All I can do is sit over there and wait until my name’s called,” he said. “When it comes, I’m going to go 110 percent and give them my all and just take care of business out there.”
Grant Hill added 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Amare Stoudemire had 20 points and 10 rebounds as six Suns reached double figures.
Allen Iverson scored 32 for the Nuggets, 17 in the first quarter when his team fell behind 46-34. Carmelo Anthony added 20 points in Denver’s second loss in eight games.
“I’m pretty sure it surprised everybody the way they were shooting,” Iverson said. “There isn’t a whole lot to say. They were hot and kept getting the ball to the guys making the shots.”
Down 25 early in the third quarter, the Nuggets used an 11-2 run to cut it to 101-90 on Camby’s three-point play with 25.6 seconds left in the third. But Stoudemire sank a 16-footer, Iverson missed two free throws and Leandro Barbosa made a 3-pointer at the buzzer to boost Phoenix’s lead to 106-90 entering the fourth.
Denver, coming off a home victory over Philadelphia on Sunday, closed to 112-99 on Nene’s fastbreak layup with 6:48 remaining, but Banks ended any comeback hopes with a pair of 3s.
The first half ended after Brian Skinner drew an offensive foul on Kenyon Martin, then made—what else?—a 3-pointer at the buzzer to make it 78-59. It was Skinner’s second career 3-pointer. His first, from about 40 feet, came earlier this year at the halftime buzzer against Sacramento.
Warriors 130, Spurs 121
In Oakland, Calif., Stephen Jackson scored 12 of his 29 points in overtime, and Baron Davis had 34 points and 14 assists in yet another remarkable late-game performance.
Davis scored 12 points in the fourth quarter with a stunning series of baskets and passes, but the defending champion Spurs erased a six-point deficit in the final 47 seconds. Tony Parker forced overtime on a 3-pointer with 6.3 seconds left in San Antonio’s second loss at Golden State in four weeks.
Tim Duncan, who didn’t play in the Spurs’ previous trip to Oakland on Dec. 11, had 32 points and 13 rebounds, while Parker finished with 31 points and eight assists. The Warriors’ tenacity prevented Spurs coach Gregg Popovich from getting his 600th career victory.
