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Stoudemire celebrates birthday by sparking Suns win

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-11-17 14:37

PHOENIX, Arizona - Amare Stoudemire celebrated his 26th birthday in style by contributing 29 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 104-86 win over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday.

Phoenix Suns' Amare Stoudemire (R) draws the foul on Detroit Pistons' Tayshaun Prince during the fourth quarter of their NBA basketball game in Phoenix, Arizona November 16, 2008. [Agencies]

Despite the ejection of Phoenix center Shaquille O'Neal in the second quarter for a flagrant foul, the Suns had little trouble ending Detroit's three-game winning streak.

"It was perfect," Stoudemire told reporters. "Shaq went out with the ejection in the first half and we were still able to get the win."

Steve Nash, returning from a one-game suspension, added 17 points and seven assists for Phoenix (8-3), who moved to within a half-game of the Pacific Division-leading Los Angeles Lakers.

"I thought that we were able to get a really good tempo tonight," Suns coach Terry Porter told reporters. "We had a good mix of throwing the ball into Shaq and then when we had opportunities we were pushing the ball and moving it. That's good to see going forward as far as the way we want to play."

Richard Hamilton led Detroit with 19 points and recent acquisition Allen Iverson connected on only four-of-17 shots and turned the ball over five times while scoring just nine points.

"We dug ourselves too deep of a hole," Hamilton told reporters. "They were making runs earlier, they were shooting 70 per cent in the first half. That's what lost us the game."