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Suns, Warriors meet in Pacific Division battle

Mar 13, 2008 - 1:46 PM Golden State (40-23) at Phoenix (42-22) 10:30 pm EDT

PHOENIX (Ticker) - Points are rarely hard to come by when the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns meet.

The two highest scoring offenses in the NBA clash Thursday when the Suns host the Warriors.

Phoenix, which averages 109.6 points, and Golden State, which averages a league-high 110.9 points, have turned in a pair of high-scoring performances in their two meetings this season.

The Warriors have won both - a 129-114 victory on November 26 followed by a 120-118 triumph on February 13.

The Suns appear to be coming together after winning just three of their first nine games with 14-time All-Star Shaquille O'Neal in the lineup.

After a home win against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday, Phoenix put away the Memphis Grizzlies early - leading by as many as 39 points in the third quarter - in a 132-111 rout on Tuesday.

Amare Stoudemire had 29 points and 13 rebounds in the win for the Suns, who won consecutive games for the first time since February 8-10.

While O'Neal has been a member of the Suns since he was acquired on February 6 from the Miami Heat, he was not in uniform yet when the Warriors secured their second victory against the Suns.

Monta Ellis, who is averaging 34 points in two games against Phoenix this season, scored 37 points for Golden State in the February meeting. He was at it again on Wednesday, scoring 33 points for the Warriors in 117-106 triumph over the Toronto Raptors for Golden State's third straight win.