PHOENIX (AP) -Shawn Marion scored a season-high 27 points, had six blocked shots, and hit five of Phoenix’s 20 3-pointers to lead the Suns to a 137-115 romp over the Denver Nuggets in a matchup of division leaders Monday night.
Marcus Banks, who has played his way back into the Suns’ rotation, made a career-high seven 3s en route to a season-best 23 points. The 20 3-pointers matched a franchise record and were one shy of the NBA record set by Toronto on March 13, 2005.
The Suns jumped out to a 17-6 lead, were up by 23 in the second quarter and 25 in the third in their best offensive showings of the season after a disappointing 118-113 home loss to New Orleans on Saturday.
Marion made 11-of-15 shots and grabbed 14 rebounds before leaving with 4:23 to play. All five of his 3s came in the first half. Grant Hill added 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Amare Stoudemire had 20 points and 10 rebounds as six Suns reached double figures.
Allen Iverson scored 32 for the Nuggets, 17 in the first quarter when his team fell behind 46-34. Carmelo Anthony added 20 points in Denver’s second loss in eight games and first in four.
Down 90-65 early in the quarter, the Nuggets used a 11-2 run to cut it to 101-90 on Camby’s three-point play with 25.6 seconds left in the third. But Stoudemire sank a 16-footer, Iverson missed two free throws and Leandro Barbosa made a 3-pointer at the buzzer to boost Phoenix’s lead to 106-90 entering the fourth.
Denver closed to 112-99 on Nene’s fast-break layup with 6:48 remaining, but Banks ended any comeback hopes with a pair of 3s.
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