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Friday, Jan. 5 9:00pm ET
Suns make short work of Grizzlies

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PHOENIX (AP) -- After two close calls against Vancouver, the Phoenix Suns finally got a blowout.

Jason Kidd needed only three quarters to get his fifth triple-double of the season and Shawn Marion scored 23 points Friday night as the Suns routed the Grizzlies 108-76.

Jason Kidd
Jason Kidd drives to his fifth triple-double of the season.
In their first two meetings, Phoenix won by two points and six points. Since then, the Grizzlies have altered their style of play to a smaller lineup and a faster pace -- styles the Suns love.

"Anytime a team wants to run with us, my eyes get real wide," Kidd said.

Kidd, who sat out the fourth quarter, had 11 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds as the Suns opened an 83-56 lead after three quarters. It was his second triple-double in seven games and the 36th of his career.

Tony Delk also scored 23 in the Suns' most lopsided victory of the season.

"There were a lot of good things out there tonight," Phoenix coach Scott Skiles said. "I thought our defensive intensity was like it was back when we were 7-1. It's about time."

Kidd had five points, eight assists and five rebounds in the third quarter when the Suns turned the game into a blowout.

"Jason can get a triple-double in 29 minutes and do it in a quiet way," Skiles said. "It's hard to understand how that is even possible, but it is with Jason. As a coach, you've got to be careful not to take him for granted."

Marion, who also didn't play in the fourth quarter, was 10-for-13 from the field and grabbed 10 rebounds in his best offensive game since he scored a season-high 26 against the Los Angeles Clippers on Nov. 25. He also harassed Michael Dickerson into a 3-for-14 shooting night.

"This was one of his best games as a pro all around," Skiles said.

Marion said the Suns were having fun again.

"We've been lacking that a little lately," he said. "We needed that."

Mike Bibby and Shareef Abdur-Rahim each scored 14 for the Grizzlies, who shot 31 percent from the field compared to 50 percent for Phoenix. Dickerson and Othella Harrington each scored 10.

"When one of your top scorers has an off night, usually one of the other ones is on," Dickerson said. "But tonight pretty much all of us were out of sync."

It was the biggest losing margin of the season for the Grizzlies, who were coming off a homecourt victory over Charlotte on Wednesday but have lost six of seven and 12 of 14.

"They were very aggressive," Vancouver coach Sidney Lowe said of the Suns. "They used their quickness and athleticisim agaunst us and we couldn't make plays."

Marion scored 17 and Delk 10 as the Suns led by as many as 15 in the first half. Marion's two free throws with 1:15 to go in the half put Phoenix up 48-33. Harrington's three-point play and Damon Jones' layup cut it to 48-38, then Cliff Robinson sank two free throws with 2.5 seconds to go to give the Suns a 50-38 lead at the break.

Delk's three-point play on a slick fast-break pass from Kidd capped a 13-1 run that gave the Suns a 71-47 lead with 5:39 left in the third quarter.

Game notes
The Suns waived point guard Elliot Perry to make room for Penny Hardaway, who is expected to play Sunday against Minnesota. ... Suns' 7-foot-2 rookie Jake Tsakalidis scored a season-high 10 points and blocked three shots. ... Dickerson was 1-for-8 in the first half, with his only basket a breakaway layup. ... The Suns have won just six games by 10 points or more. ... Phoenix's previous biggest winning margin was 26 against Portland in the second game of the season. Vancouver's previous biggest loss was by 25 at New York on Nov. 27.


ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard

Vancouver Clubhouse

Phoenix Clubhouse

RECAPS
Philadelphia 121
Seattle 89

Dallas 115
Toronto 105

Golden State 100
Boston 88

Denver 100
Utah 87

Phoenix 108
Vancouver 76

Portland 119
Milwaukee 115

Charlotte 86
LA Clippers 73

Indiana 93
Sacramento 91

FROM
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