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Stoudemire, Suns hand Clippers sixth straight loss

Dec 29, 2007 - 5:58 AM PHOENIX (Ticker) -- Amare Stoudemire had 28 points and 10 rebounds as the Phoenix Suns posted a 94-88 triumph over the slumping Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night.

Grant Hill had 22 points and eight assists and Shawn Marion chipped in 18 and seven boards for Phoenix, which completed a home-and-home sweep of the Clippers.

On Thursday, the 25-year-old Stoudemire carried the load with 30 points and 15 boards in helping Phoenix roll to a 108-88 victory at the Staples Center.

Known mostly for its high-powered offense, Phoenix recorded a franchise record-tying 16 blocks, with Brian Skinner, Stoudemire and Hill leading the way with 10 combined. The 16 blocks matched a league high this season.

"We have athletic, long guys who can definitely block some shots," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said. "It was a little different game from last night. They played a lot better and we gutted it out."

With Phoenix holding just a one-point advantage at the start of the fourth quarter, Hill, who received six stitches from a Corey Maggette elbow, scored 10 points during a 13-4 run to open the period to make it 79-69 with 7:35 remaining.

"Our offense wasn't in a great rhythm but we dug down deep and did what we had to down the stretch," Hill said. "During that stretch I still felt decent, I wanted to stay aggressive and take what was given to me."

But Los Angeles rallied within 87-86 when crafty veteran Sam Cassell buried a 3-pointer over Steve Nash that capped a 15-8 burst at the 2:11 mark.

"Down the stretch we gave them a couple of easy baskets where we got caught on the weak side not being alert," Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said. "To even be in the game shooting 34 percent is something but Stoudemire hit a long jumper and Nash hit a fadeaway. Both were tough shots."

However, Stoudemire helped create a five-point advantage for the Suns on consecutive baskets, highlighted by his 19-footer with 39 seconds remaining.

"We tried to maintain our aggressiveness in the third quarter but sometimes you are slowed like that," Stoudemire said. "We were still able to prevent those guys from going on a huge run and got some big buckets down the stretch."

Chris Kaman picked up his 23rd double-double of the season with 20 points and 20 rebounds for Los Angeles, which has dropped six games in a row.

"They are a tough team to play because they try to run you into the ground," Kaman said. "We played a lot better than (Thursday) against them but it's never fun to lose."