|
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME FLOW
PHOENIX (AP) – Jason Kidd is one of the best assist men ever to play in the NBA and is rapidly becoming known as a scorer.
| |  | |
| Kidd |
Kidd scored 29 points Wednesday night as the Phoenix Suns
defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 103-94, extending their winning
streak to five games.
Kidd, who started the season with a 13.6 career scoring average, is averaging 24 points during the Suns' winning streak.
"That's old news now," Kidd said of his scoring surge.
"Everybody expects me to score points now. I don't want to let
anybody down."
Suns coach Scott Skiles likes Kidd's recent play.
"I thought Jason was phenomenal again," Skiles said. "He set
the tempo.
"We tried to get him some rest tonight but had to put him right back in whenever we took him out."
Cleveland coach Randy Wittman was not surprised by Kidd's
scoring.
"He's been playing good," Wittman said. "He constantly keeps pressure on you with the ball. He's one of the best in the league with the ball. He hurt us."
Tony Delk added 22 points for the Suns. Andre Miller scored 22
points and Matt Harpring added 19 for the Cavaliers, who lost for
the 13th time in 17 games.
A basket by Trajan Langdon pulled Cleveland within 79-76 with
9:15 remaining, but the Suns' Mario Elie hit a 3-pointer and two
free throws to extend the Suns' lead to 84-76. The Cavaliers got no
closer than four points the rest of the way.
"You can't fault our effort tonight," Harpring said. "We came out and played hard. We gave ourselves a chance to win."
Kidd handed out five assists during a 19-0 run by the Suns that
started three minutes into the game with Cleveland leading 9-7.
Phoenix led 33-20 after one quarter.
Cleveland closed within 43-37 with 2:59 left in the second
quarter, but a pair of baskets by Kidd gave the Suns a 51-40
halftime advantage.
The Cavaliers closed to 66-60 on a pair of free throws by Miller
with 4:28 left in the third quarter, but Phoenix countered dwith an
11-8 run for a 77-68 lead after three.
Game notes
Suns F Shawn Marion sustained a contusion on his left knee
in the first quarter. He returned briefly in the second quarter and
then left the game. He is day-to-day. ... Cleveland has lost
eight straight road games and has won just eight on the road this
season, two short of last season's total. ... The Suns are 18-8
against Eastern Conference teams. ... The Suns and Cavaliers meet
again April 7 in Cleveland.
 Send this story to a friend
|
|
ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Cleveland Clubhouse
Phoenix Clubhouse
RECAPS
New Jersey 99
Denver 96
Orlando 96
Philadelphia 95
Phoenix 103
Cleveland 94
Dallas 94
Portland 84
Seattle 94
Minnesota 93
Sacramento 108
LA Lakers 84
|
