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Allen, SuperSonics eclipse Suns

Feb 15, 2007 - 7:40 AM SEATTLE (Ticker) -- Ray Allen and the Seattle SuperSonics sent the Phoenix Suns stumbling into the All-Star break.

Allen scored 31 points and the Suns continued to struggle without point guard Steve Nash as the Sonics posted an easy 114-90 victory.

It was the worst loss of the season for Phoenix, which was playing its fourth game without its two-time MVP, who is out due to inflammation in his right shoulder.

Phoenix has now lost three of its last four games and goes into the break mired in its first three-game losing streak since a four-game slide from November 3-9.

"I thought we played as hard as we can play and you got to give the Sonics credit," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said. "They're full strength now and with Ray Allen shooting like that, even with us at full strength, I don't know if we could have beat them or not."

Allen scored 15 of his points in the third quarter as the Sonics built a 92-77 lead.

"The game picked up and we really had to push the ball," Allen said. "I just took what the defense gave me, but I tried to take a little bit more I guess."

Nick Collison scored 22 points and had 15 rebounds and Rashard Lewis added 20 points for Seattle, which never trailed after Allen made a 3-pointer with 9:24 left in the first quarter for an 8-5 lead.

Collison's performance was critical as Chris Wilcox managed just five points and seven rebounds. Sonics coach Bob Hill was nearly at a loss for words when talking about the former Kansas star's play.

"I don't know what to say about Nick, I'm flabbergasted with him," Hill said. "He played Amare pretty much straight up. I don't know what else to say to you, I've never seen anything like it. I'm happy for him."

Marcus Banks had 21 points off the bench and Amare Stoudemire had 18 for the Suns.

Phoenix obviously misses Nash and it was again evident against Seattle. Without Nash creating opportunities for his teammates, the Suns shot a season-worst 39 percent (35-of-90) from the field.

For Shawn Marion, who had 10 points and 10 rebounds but was just 3-of-10 from the field, the reason for the offensive struggles was Nash's absence.

"He's our primary playmaker. He's our point guard," Marion said. "You know, we have some great guards and great players, but he's our only point guard, so there's a difference."