RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
DENVER (AP) -- The final four minutes were a chaotic mess of
missed shots, bad passes and confused referees. Jason Kidd and the
Phoenix Suns savored every second of disarray.
Ruben Garces tipped in Kidd's missed layup with 17 seconds
remaining to cap a furious fourth-quarter rally as Phoenix beat the
Denver Nuggets 102-99 on Saturday night.
The Suns, who overcame 25 turnovers, trailed by 15 points late
in the game but Kidd scored 12 of Phoenix's final 18 points to lead
the improbable comeback.
"We tried to open it up and cause some havoc," Kidd said. "We
made some layups, we got some stops. In that situation, you want to
make it as crazy as possible."
Kidd finished with 22 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds.
Shawn Marion had 21 points and Tony Delk scored 14 of his 17 points
in the fourth quarter for the Suns.
Raef LaFrentz and Nick Van Exel each scored 14 points to lead
six Denver players in double figures. The Nuggets played without
Antonio McDyess, who sat out because of back spasms.
"We had that game won," Denver coach Dan Issel said. "We
relaxed too much. We quit doing things we had been doing the whole
game."
The Nuggets led by 15 after two free throws by Robert Pack with
3:45 remaining and still had a comfortable 98-88 lead two minutes
later before collapsing under Phoenix's full-court pressure.
The Suns forced three straight turnovers and scored the next 10
points in a 63-second span. Kidd capped the run with a free throw
that tied the game at 98 with 42 seconds left.
"This is definitely the most frustrating loss I've had since
I've been in the league," Van Exel said. "We played great, and
the rules went out the window when they needed to come back, as far
as holds and slaps and clutching."
Van Exel gave Denver its last lead with a free throw with 37
seconds to go, but Garces tipped in Kidd's wild layup on the next
possession to put Phoenix ahead for good.
The referees initially called Kidd for traveling because they
thought he touched his own airball. The call was changed after a
short conference, and replays showed Garces -- not Kidd -- clearly
tipped the ball.
"That was a playground play," Kidd said. "We tried to
penetrate and get an easy look. Unfortunately, I threw up a prayer,
and it was answered by a rookie. The rookie came in and tipped
it."
Garces played for Denver in the team's summer league but was not
offered a contract.
"That's how things go. I got even," he said.
Despite their mistakes, Denver still had a chance to win, but
Paul McPherson stole the ball from Van Exel and scored on a dunk
with 3.8 seconds left. Tariq Abdul-Wahad was short on a potential
game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer.
"When you're out there up by 10 with five minutes left, you
should win the game," Denver forward George McCloud said. "It's
been a long time since I've been this frustrated after a loss."
Down by five at the half, Denver rallied behind tight defense to
take its first lead since the game's first five minutes. The
Nuggets had seven steals and scored 14 points off 11 Phoenix
turnovers to take a 70-65 lead into the fourth.
After shooting 57 percent in the first half, the Suns were
3-for-15 in the third quarter.
"We didn't play well," Suns coach Scott Skiles said. "We
didn't play hard for a long stretch of the game. We played hard in
the first quarter and then let them do what they wanted."
The Suns, who have won 13 of 14 against the Nuggets, used an
18-2 run to build a 12-point lead in the first quarter. Denver got
as close as three in the second and trailed 50-45 at the half.
Game
notes
The Nuggets have been outrebounded in each of their first
three games. ... Kidd had three steals in the first quarter. As he
jumped in front of a pass from James Posey, he yelled, "Thank
you" in midair and then started a fast break. ... Denver committed
six first-quarter turnovers that led to 10 Phoenix points.
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NBA Scoreboard
Phoenix Clubhouse
Denver Clubhouse
RECAPS
LA Lakers 98
Vancouver 89
Indiana 94
Chicago 81
Toronto 103
Washington 96
Orlando 107
Atlanta 104
Cleveland 91
Boston 89
Philadelphia 84
Miami 82
Utah 112
Dallas 106
Minnesota 99
Sacramento 91
Charlotte 98
New Jersey 87
Milwaukee 97
Detroit 88
Phoenix 102
Denver 99
Portland 97
Seattle 90
San Antonio 117
Golden State 105
LA Clippers 77
Houston 74
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