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Suns edge Amare, Knicks at MSG

Jan 17, 2011 - 11:49 PM New York, NY (Sports Network) - Vince Carter hit five of Phoenix's 11 three- pointers and ended with 29 points and 12 rebounds, pacing the Suns over the New York Knicks, 129-121, in a matinee at Madison Square Garden.

Grant Hill scored 25 points, Channing Frye netted 18 and Steve Nash chipped in 15 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds for the Suns, winners of three straight for the third time this season.

"We're playing a little bit harder, competing more," Nash said. "I have cautious optimism."

Amare Stoudemire scored a season-high 41 points against his former team, but it wasn't enough for a Knicks club that has dropped four of five overall. Wilson Chandler posted 23 points in defeat.

The Knicks pounded the Suns, 121-96, earlier this month, but Phoenix showed it still has fire power left to contend with Mike D'Antoni's up-and-down style.

Nash drained a three-pointer with under five minutes to go, breaking a 106-106 tie. After trading baskets, Carter followed with another make from long range for a six-point advantage.

Shawne Williams was whistled for an offensive foul on a tip-in on New York's next possession, and Hill's two free throws extended the lead with 3:20 to go.

Stoudemire got an inside shot to fall, but Carter's cross-court pass found Frye for an open three at the other end, and the Suns suddenly led by nine.

The Knicks trimmed the deficit to four following three Danilo Gallinari free throws with 57.7 remaining, but Phoenix was perfect at the line down the stretch to earn the victory.

"We had a little bit of a mental letdown," D'Antoni admitted. "This should definitely be a wake up call."

Stoudemire scored 15 points in the first quarter, but the Suns went on a 15-2 run midway through that helped them take a 39-30 edge after 12 minutes.

The Knicks hit a trio of three-pointers in the first 96 seconds of the second to tie the game, and held a 64-61 lead after another fast-paced stanza.

Nash drained a three early in the third for a one-point lead, 70-69, and Phoenix stayed in front the rest of the frame, holding a 97-91 cushion heading into the final stanza.

Game Notes

With his ninth point of the game, Carter became the 37th player in NBA history to reach 20,000 career points...Robin Lopez added 12 points for Phoenix, which held a 48-38 rebounding advantage...Gallinari, who missed the previous six games with a knee sprain, scored 17 points for New York...Raymond Felton had 13 assists but shot 3-for-13 from the floor for seven points in the loss...Knicks forward Ronny Turiaf missed the game due to a bruised hip.