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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
PHOENIX (AP) -- Eleven years ago, Clifford Robinson wasn't drafted until the second round because there were concerns about his work ethic and attitude.
That must have been some other Clifford Robinson, not the one who scored a career-high 50 points in the Phoenix Suns' 113-100 victory over the Denver Nuggets Sunday night, the highest-scoring game by anyone in the NBA this season.
|  | | Denver's Nick Van Exel is in danger of losing the ball as Phoenix's Jason Kidd goes for the steal. |
No small forward is playing better, teammate Jason Kidd said.
"It isn't just on the offensive end. He plays both ends of the
court," Kidd said. "He's a warrior. He wants to go out and win
every game. He makes my job a lot easier."
Robinson had nearly half of his total in the first quarter, a
23-point performance that tied the Suns' record for one period.
Robinson, sent home from the team's shootaround earlier in the
day because of a stomach ache, broke the scoring record for the
8-year-old America West Arena. The previous mark was 42 by Kevin
Johnson of Phoenix on April 3, 1994.
It was Robinson's best performance in what has two outstanding seasons in a row.
"I just think I'm confident about what I can do," Robinson
said. "I've played against a lot of guys in the NBA. I know what I
can do against certain guys. Against the younger guys, I feel I
have an advantage because I've been around a little longer. I think
I've just kind of matured into the type of player that I am now,
where I better understand how I can attack defenders."
It was the third-highest regular-season scoring game ever for a
Phoenix player. Tom Chambers scored 60 and 56 in the 1989-90
season. Robinson's 23 first-quarter points also were an arena
record. Charles Barkley also scored 56 in a playoff game for Phoenix.
"It felt great," Robinson said. "I just tried to put some
effort out there, and it came out good tonight."
He even managed two free throws before the second half started after Denver coach Dan Issel and assistant Louie Dampier were called for technicals as they left the floor following the first
half.
Robinson's 23 first-quarter points equaled the franchise record
set by Charlie Scott against Seattle on Dec. 16, 1973, and tied by
Eddie Johnson against the Los Angeles Clippers on Nov. 12, 1988.
The previous arena record for a quarter was 19 by Mitch Richmond
of Sacramento on Dec. 30, 1996, and the Suns' Dan Majerle against
the Los Angeles Lakers on April 15, 1995.
Ron Mercer scored 25 for Denver, which lost its fourth in a row.
Robinson's performance made him the 130th NBA player to top 13,000 points for his career. Robinson had 29 through two quarters
and 40 through three. He was 17-26 from the field and 13-for-15 at
the foul line. Robinson was 3-for-5 from 3-point range and had
eight rebounds, four assists and no turnovers in 43 minutes.
"I've been in games where guys were just out there trying to
get numbers, and that was not the case tonight for Cliff," Phoenix
coach Scott Skiles said. "I thought he took good shots. He got
them in a variety of ways. He got to the hole. He got to the foul
line. He made 3s. He pretty much did it all out there
offensively."
In the first quarter, with most of his points coming on drives
to the hoop, Robinson was 9-for-11 from the field and 4-for-5 at
the foul line. He scored Phoenix's last nine points of the quarter
as the Suns took a 34-19 lead.
Robinson's previous career high was 41 when he played for
Portland against Minnesota on Jan. 7, 1996.
"Clifford was terrific," Issel said. "We had no answer and
that's why we lost the game. We tried different people on him. We
tried double-teaming him, and he was just awesome. He had a great
night and he's had a great career. Phoenix would be in tough shape
without him."
Issel was ejected when he drew his second technical foul as the Nuggets left the court at halftime. It was the second game in a row
that the visiting team's coach was thrown out of the game in
Phoenix. Portland coach Mike Dunleavy was ejected from the Blazers'
victory over the Suns on Friday night.
Mercer scored 19 in the first half. Denver's Antonio McDyess
scored 14 in 20 foul-plagued minutes.
Game notes
Toronto's Vince Carter had the league's previous high this
season with 47 on Friday night against Milwaukee. ... Robinson's
teammate Todd Day also missed the shootaround with illness but
scored 15 Sunday night. ... Nick Van Exel was back in the Denver
starting lineup after missing his first game of the season with a
groin pull Friday night against Miami, but was obviously hurting.
... The Suns' Rex Chapman missed his second consecutive game with a
sore ankle. ... Phoenix has beaten Denver 10 of the past 11
times the teams have met.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Denver Clubhouse
Phoenix Clubhouse
Confident Robinson at the top of his game
RECAPS
Miami 94
Vancouver 83
Phoenix 113
Denver 100
Sacramento 113
Cleveland 102
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