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Monday, Mar. 20 10:30pm ET
Robinson hits 6 free throws in final 1:46 | |||||
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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
PHOENIX (AP) -- After making two field goals early in the fourth quarter, Cliff Robinson couldn't get anything to drop. So he changed tactics and went inside. Plan B worked -- Robinson made six free throws in the final 1:46, and the Suns cut off Boston's attempts to rally in a 110-106 victory over the Celtics on Monday night.
"I couldn't make a shot, so I was trying to get the ball to the basket to put some pressure on them that way," said Robinson, who was 15-of-17 from the line but only 3-of-13 from the field. "It was nice to get a win. Those guys are playing pretty well, and they're playing extremely hard." He finished with 22 points and nine rebounds as the Suns moved within one game of clinching a playoff berth with their fourth consecutive victory. "We've got a nice little streak going, and that's the key, and we made stops and we made baskets when we had to," said Jason Kidd, who had 16 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds. Shawn Marion scored 18 points. Rodney Rogers added 17 and Penny Hardaway 13 in the balanced Suns attack. Paul Pierce scored 27 points for the Celtics, who were stymied in their attempt to win three straight road games for the first time since December 1995. Antoine Walker added 23 points and 14 rebounds, and reserve Danny Fortson had 16 points and a season-high 15 rebounds for Boston, which had its three-game winning streak snapped. "We're trying to win every game," Walker said. "This was a successful road trip. We won two of three games, and we got ourselves in good position for the playoffs." Kidd scored Phoenix's last field goal with 4:05 to play, driving to the baseline for a 10-foot jumper that bounced around the rim and finally dropped through. He was fouled and made the free throw for a 104-92 lead. "He's just a great player," Boston's Kenny Anderson said. "Their offense is so perimeter-oriented, and then he penetrates and dishes out to Rodney Rogers or Penny or Cliff. He kind of puts you on your heels." Anderson tried to rally the Celtics, making a layup, tipping in his own missed shot and passing to Walker for a dunk in a 1:05 spurt that got Boston within 104-98 with 2:08 left. After that, every inbounds pass went to Robinson, and he went to the line four times. The Celtics could get no closer than the final margin. The Suns led just 84-83 starting the fourth quarter after the Celtics put on an 11-5 surge in the last 2:13 of the third, and Walker tied it at 84 with a free throw 34 seconds into the quarter. But Robinson, who had 11 points in the final quarter, broke the tie with a 3-pointer and had another field goal as the Suns opened a 91-86 lead in the first 2:02. The Celtics led throughout the first quarter, but that changed quickly. Toby Bailey had two three-point plays during a 24-6 run by the Suns in the first 5:46 of the second quarter that carried them to a 52-36 lead. Pierce had 10 points as Boston responded with a 16-5 run of its own, but Rogers and Hardaway hit 3-pointers to give Phoenix a 62-52 halftime lead.
Game notes | ALSO SEE NBA Scoreboard Boston Clubhouse Phoenix Clubhouse RECAPS Philadelphia 102 Charlotte 96
Phoenix 110
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