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Stoudemire makes first appearance as Suns beat Nuggets

Oct 26, 2007 - 5:02 AM PHOENIX (Ticker) -- The Phoenix Suns' high-octane offense appears ready for the regular season, and so does Amare Stoudemire.

Stoudemire scored 10 points and grabbed six rebounds in his first preseason action as the Phoenix Suns posted a 116-113 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday.

Stoudemire, who had arthroscopic knee surgery on October 2, returned to practice Tuesday.

He played 18 minutes and shot 4-of-5 from the floor and was one of seven Suns in double figures.

Newcomer Grant Hill scored 17 points and Steve Nash added 14 points and 10 assists for Phoenix, which outscored Denver, 39-15, in the third quarter.

Allen Iverson scored 24 and Carmelo Anthony added 22 for Denver, which reached the charity stripe an astounding 55 times, but converted just 34 of those attempts.

Meanwhile, the Suns, who lost to San Antonio in the Western Conference Finals last season, shot 47 percent (42-of-88) from the floor.

Rookie D.J. Strawberry scored 14 points, while first-round pick Alando Tucker scored 12 points on 5-of-12 shooting for Phoenix.