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Suns rout Clippers with stars on sidelines

Oct 22, 2008 - 5:17 AM By John Reger PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- In a preseason game where the stars either sat by choice or with injuries, the Phoenix Suns cruised to an 86-69 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night.

The Suns were without center Shaquille O'Neal and guard Steve Nash. O'Neal was healthy but did not dress for the game. Nash, a two-time MVP, sprained his right ankle last week in a game against the Atlanta Hawks and re-injured it Monday in practice.

The Clippers were without offseason acquisitions Baron Davis and Marcus Camby as the duo continued to recover from injuries.

Davis sustained a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his left ring finger during Friday's practice. The injury does not require surgery and is expected to heal on its own. Davis should return in a week with a splint on his finger.

Camby is nursing a bruised right heel he injured more than a week ago and likely will sit out the rest of the preseason.

With the injuries, both teams relied on their centers for points. The Suns received 21 from Amare Stoudemire, who played 30 minutes.

Los Angeles was led by Chris Kaman, who collected 16 points and 12 rebounds in 30 minutes.

Another member of the Clippers who continued to impress coach Mike Dunleavy is rookie guard Mike Taylor, who was acquired in a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers on draft night. Taylor is battling with Jason Hart for time behind Davis and scored 12 points in 24 minutes.

Boris Diaw scored 14 points and Leandro Barbosa contributed 13 for the Suns. Second-year forward Alando Tucker, who averaged 3.7 points for the team in his rookie season, scored 10 in 28 minutes.