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Marion, Suns cruise past Trail Blazers

Dec 27, 2006 - 6:59 AM PHOENIX (Ticker) -- Shawn Marion and the Phoenix Suns got back on track in impressive fashion.

Marion had 23 points and eight rebounds and reserve Leandro Barbosa added 22 points as the Suns cruised to a 110-87 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Raja Bell scored 18 points for the Suns, who shot a blistering 54 percent (44-of-82) from the field and had one of their best defensive performances of the season.

"We did play good defense," Marion said. "We were pressuring the ball, getting in the passing lanes, getting deflections and being active. We were making them shoot contested shots."

After spending two days in Denver due to a major blizzard on Wednesday, Phoenix had its franchise-record 15-game winning streak snapped in a 144-139 overtime loss to Washington on Friday. The club arrived at US Airways Center just hours before the tip.

On Tuesday, however, the Suns put together one of their most complete performances of the campaign, resting their starters in the fourth quarter as they entered the period with a 76-57 lead.

"It is nice but I was toying with the idea of putting (the starters) back in," Phoenix Suns Mike D'Antoni said. "We were up in Denver for a couple of days and didn't do much then Christmas. We had a week when we haven't done a whole lot so we shouldn't be too tired but we didn't want to risk anything."

But their effort on the other end of the court sparked the victory. Phoenix held the Blazers to a season-low 32 points in the first half and a franchise-low eight assists for the game.

Jarrett Jack and Zach Randolph scored 18 points apiece for Portland, which shot just 40 percent (35-of-87).

"They came out like the Phoenix Suns but the bad thing is we didn't come out like the Portland Trail Blazers," Jack said. "They can do that against any team on any given night."