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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
MIAMI (AP) – The Phoenix Suns are finding success and victories
on their trip through Florida.
|  | | The Heat's Bruce Bowen, right, has his shot blocked by the Suns' Shawn Marion. |
Cliff Robinson scored 25 points and Shawn Marion had 16 points
and 18 rebounds as Phoenix beat the Miami Heat 100-85 Wednesday
night.
Rodney Rogers added 22 points and eight rebounds for Phoenix,
which won for the eighth time in 11 games and improved to 2-1 on
its road trip.
The Suns have won their last two games impressively, following
up Tuesday's victory in Orlando with a blowout in Miami.
"These are two big wins, especially since they were against two
playoff teams," Marion said. "We're really clicking right now."
Brian Grant scored 21 points and reserve Anthony Carter added 19
as Miami lost its third straight game. The Heat, who had won 11 of
their last 12 home games, had not lost three consecutive games
since November.
"This was an exhibition of one team totally outclassing the
other team and out-coaching the other team," Heat coach Pat Riley
said. "We just didn't have it tonight."
Miami nearly had its 561-game 3-point streak snapped. However,
Carter hit a 3-pointer with 21 seconds left to extend the streak.
Miami last failed to convert a 3-pointer on Jan. 19, 1994.
The Heat were coming off a tough 76-74 loss to the New York
Knicks on Tuesday. The fallout from that game was evident as Miami
fell behind 28-20 after one quarter, 54-40 at the break, and
trailed by as many as 27 points in the second half.
"We were fatigued. I know I was," Heat guard Tim Hardaway
said. "I felt like I was running in mud at times."
Hardaway, who missed a pair of 3-point attempts in the closing
seconds against the Knicks, was not a factor against the Suns,
finishing with three points on 1-for-5 shooting in 22 minutes.
The Suns closed out the first half with an 18-6 run, capped by
Marion's dunk, for a 54-40 halftime lead.
Phoenix built its lead to 62-43 in the first three minutes of
the third quarter. The Suns shot 50 percent in the quarter and led
80-55 at the end of the period.
"When we're playing like that, it makes for a fun night," said
Suns guard Jason Kidd, who had nine assists. "Everybody was
touching the ball, getting involved. We've played our best ball of
the season on the road these last two nights. We're playing loose,
and we believe in each other."
Game notes
Miami's Don MacLean played for the first time since
Jan. 30, following a five-game suspension for steroid use. ...
Miami backup center Duane Causwell missed the game because of a
death in his family. ... Miami's lineup of Anthony Mason, Brian
Grant, Bruce Bowen, Eddie Jones and Tim Hardaway has started 35
straight games and 41 of the team's 55 games. ...Phoenix won the
first 16 games in the series against Miami and leads the series
22-4. ... The Suns are 15-6 against the Eastern Conference. ... The
Suns have allowed 100 or more points in just three of their last 15
games.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Phoenix Clubhouse
Miami Clubhouse
RECAPS
Philadelphia 107
Vancouver 91
LA Clippers 100
Cleveland 94
Detroit 90
New York 85
Phoenix 100
Miami 85
New Jersey 113
Toronto 111
Houston 89
Minnesota 83
LA Lakers 101
San Antonio 99
Seattle 127
Denver 98
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