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Richardson, Hill pace Suns over Warriors

Dec 3, 2010 - 7:58 AM Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Jason Richardson scored 25 points and Grant Hill added 24 to lead the Phoenix Suns past the Golden State Warriors, 107-101, in a battle of struggling Pacific Division clubs.

Steve Nash complemented 16 assists with 13 points, while Channing Frye chipped in 10 points and 10 rebounds in the win, just the third for the Suns in the last eight games.

"We just want to try and continue to make a commitment on the defensive end. Keep working hard," Hill said. "We've had a good start to the month now, so we just need to focus on keeping that momentum going."

Monta Ellis netted a game-high 38 points to go with seven assists, and David Lee contributed 25 points and eight boards for the Warriors, losers in seven of their last eight games.

The Suns led 75-72 heading to the fourth quarter and pushed the margin to a seemingly comfortable 93-79 advantage following two Jared Dudley free throws with 6:53 to play.

But the Warriors answered with 10 straight points over the next 1:52, getting within 93-89 on a Rodney Carney three-pointer.

After Golden State's Dorell Wright countered a Hill jumper with a three, Ellis missed two free throws with 3:16 showing.

Nash and Frye each made two from the stripe the next two times down for Phoenix, and following Stephen Curry's pull-up jumper, Richardson beat the shot clock with a fadeaway jumper for a 101-94 lead with 1:14 to go.

The Suns held on from there.

"At some point it (defense) breaks down because they space the floor, and normal help positions are not there," explained Warriors head coach Keith Smart of the Suns' high-octane offense. "It doesn't take much. When you also have a great facilitator like (Steve) Nash he's going to find your mistakes."

Phoenix made 13-of-21 from the field in the first quarter and led 31-20 after 12 minutes, but the Warriors chipped away at the deficit and trailed 52-49 at the break following Lee's late bucket.

Golden State pulled even twice in the third but never went ahead.

Game Notes

Phoenix improved to 9-2 in the past 11 contests between the teams...Curry scored just nine points, adding seven assists in defeat...Wright nearly had a triple-double, finishing with 10 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists...The Suns made 21-of-22 from the foul line.