Box Score

 

DENVER (65)

                          fg    ft    rb             
                   min   m-a   m-a   o-t   a  pf   tp
N Tskitishvili      30  3-10   1-2   3-6   2   6   10
J Howard            29  3-18   0-0   2-6   1   1    6
N Hilario           37  2-11   6-6  5-11   1   4   10
L Harrington        13   0-0   0-0   0-0   1   2    0
R White             28   1-6   6-8   1-3   1   2    8
S Williams          26   1-4   1-2   0-1   4   2    3
M Camby             20  5-10   0-1   3-6   0   3   10
A Harrington        14   0-3   0-0   0-0   2   1    0
J Trepagnier         8   1-5   0-0   1-1   0   0    3
D Harvey            15   1-5   4-4  2-10   0   1    6
P Savovic           10   3-4   2-2   0-0   1   0    9
C Andersen          10   0-0   0-0   0-1   1   2    0
  
_____________________________________________________
TOTALS             240 20-76 20-25 17-45  14  24   65
_____________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.263, FT-.800. 3-Point Goals:
5-15, .333 (N Tskitishvili 3-6, R White 0-3, 
S Williams 0-1, A Harrington 0-2, J 
Trepagnier 1-2, P Savovic 1-1). Team 
Rebounds: 8. Blocked Shots:5 (D Harvey 2, M 
Camby, C Andersen, N Hilario). Turnovers:25 
(S Williams 6, N Hilario 6, J Howard 3, D 
Harvey 3, R White 3, N Tskitishvili 2, L 
Harrington 2). Steals: 9 (J Howard 2, J 
Trepagnier 2, M Camby, C Andersen, N Hilario,
N Tskitishvili, P Savovic).


PHOENIX (95)

                          fg    ft    rb             
                   min   m-a   m-a   o-t   a  pf   tp
S Marion            37 12-19   4-4   0-9   3   3   33
A Stoudemire        36   3-9 10-14   1-9   3   3   16
S Williams           8   0-1   2-2   0-0   0   2    2
S Marbury           21   3-4   0-0   0-2   9   1    6
P Hardaway          25   6-9   0-0   0-3   2   4   12
J Voskuhl           19   1-1   2-2   0-1   1   2    4
J Johnson           33  2-11   1-2   0-4   5   3    6
B Outlaw            24   2-6   0-0   3-6   3   2    4
C Jacobsen          17   1-3   0-0   1-3   2   0    2
D Langhi            10   1-3   0-0   1-2   0   1    2
T Gugliotta         10   2-2   4-4   1-4   2   0    8
J Tsakalidis       DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                               
  
_____________________________________________________
TOTALS             240 33-68 23-28  7-43  30  21   95
_____________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.485, FT-.821. 3-Point Goals:
6-13, .462 (S Marion 5-8, J Johnson 1-5). 
Team Rebounds: 5. Blocked Shots:7 (P Hardaway
2, B Outlaw, J Voskuhl, D Langhi, J Johnson, 
A Stoudemire). Turnovers:21 (P Hardaway 4, S 
Marion 4, S Marbury 3, T Gugliotta 2, D 
Langhi 2, A Stoudemire 2, B Outlaw, J 
Johnson, C Jacobsen, J Voskuhl). Steals: 14 
(J Johnson 5, S Marion 3, A Stoudemire 3, P 
Hardaway 2, B Outlaw).

-------------------------------------------
DENVER               14  16  19  16   -  65
PHOENIX              28  16  24  27   -  95
------------------------------------------- 

Technical fouls: Denver - 1 (Defensive Three,
5:28 3rd).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 17,124. T: 2:10. 
Officials: Bill Kennedy, Michael Smith, Ron 
Garretson.

Extended Box

 

DENVER (65) AT PHOENIX (95)

DENVER

                                               REBOUNDS                        
PLAYER           POS  MIN  FGM-FGA  FTM-FTA  OFF-DEF-TOT  AST  PF  ST  TO  PTS
======           ===  ===  =======  =======  ===========  ===  ==  ==  ==  ===
 
N TSKITISHVILI    F    30    3-10     1-2      3   3   6    2   6   1   2   10
J HOWARD          F    29    3-18     0-0      2   4   6    1   1   2   3    6
N HILARIO         C    37    2-11     6-6      5   6  11    1   4   1   6   10
L HARRINGTON      G    13    0-0      0-0      0   0   0    1   2   0   2    0
R WHITE           G    28    1-6      6-8      1   2   3    1   2   0   3    8
S WILLIAMS             26    1-4      1-2      0   1   1    4   2   0   6    3
M CAMBY                20    5-10     0-1      3   3   6    0   3   1   0   10
A HARRINGTON           14    0-3      0-0      0   0   0    2   1   0   0    0
J TREPAGNIER            8    1-5      0-0      1   0   1    0   0   2   0    3
D HARVEY               15    1-5      4-4      2   8  10    0   1   0   3    6
P SAVOVIC              10    3-4      2-2      0   0   0    1   0   1   0    9
C ANDERSEN             10    0-0      0-0      0   1   1    1   2   1   0    0
  
TOTALS                240   20-76    20-25    17  28  45   14  24   9  25   65
                            (.263)  (.800)  TEAM REBS:  8 TOTAL TO: 26 (28 PTS)    

PHOENIX

                                               REBOUNDS                         
PLAYER           POS  MIN  FGM-FGA  FTM-FTA  OFF-DEF-TOT  AST  PF  ST  TO  PTS
======           ===  ===  =======  =======  ===========  ===  ==  ==  ==  ===
 
S MARION          F    37   12-19     4-4      0   9   9    3   3   3   4   33
A STOUDEMIRE      F    36    3-9     10-14     1   8   9    3   3   3   2   16
S WILLIAMS        C     8    0-1      2-2      0   0   0    0   2   0   0    2
S MARBURY         G    21    3-4      0-0      0   2   2    9   1   0   3    6
P HARDAWAY        G    25    6-9      0-0      0   3   3    2   4   2   4   12
J VOSKUHL              19    1-1      2-2      0   1   1    1   2   0   1    4
J JOHNSON              33    2-11     1-2      0   4   4    5   3   5   1    6
B OUTLAW               24    2-6      0-0      3   3   6    3   2   1   1    4
C JACOBSEN             17    1-3      0-0      1   2   3    2   0   0   1    2
D LANGHI               10    1-3      0-0      1   1   2    0   1   0   2    2
T GUGLIOTTA            10    2-2      4-4      1   3   4    2   0   0   2    8
J TSAKALIDIS          DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                                         
  
TOTALS                240   33-68    23-28     7  36  43   30  21  14  21   95
                            (.485)  (.821)  TEAM REBS:  5 TOTAL TO: 21 (11 PTS)    
  
   DENVER             14   16   19   16   -   65
   PHOENIX            28   16   24   27   -   95
  
BLOCKED SHOTS: DENVER - D HARVEY 2, M CAMBY, C ANDERSEN, N HILARIO.
PHOENIX - P HARDAWAY 2, B OUTLAW, J VOSKUHL, D LANGHI, J JOHNSON,
A STOUDEMIRE.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: DENVER 5-15 (.333), N TSKITISHVILI 3-6, R WHITE 0-
3, S WILLIAMS 0-1, A HARRINGTON 0-2, J TREPAGNIER 1-2, P SAVOVIC 1-
1. PHOENIX 6-13 (.462), S MARION 5-8, J JOHNSON 1-5.
TECHNICAL FOULS: DENVER - DEFENSIVE THREE.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: BILL KENNEDY, MICHAEL SMITH, RON GARRETSON.
A - 17,124. T - 2:10.

Game Story

PHOENIX (Ticker) -- The Denver Nuggets discovered a new level 
of offensive ineptitude.

The Nuggets set a franchise record for lowest field-goal
percentage in a 95-65 loss to the Phoenix Suns, who got 33
points from Shawn Marion as they continued their playoff push.

Already owning the NBA's worst offense, the Nuggets shot just
26.3 percent (20-of-76) from the field.  That broke the team
mark of 27.4 percent set November 23, 1996 at Portland.

"It's a very disappointing and embarrassing loss," Nuggets coach
Jeff Bzdelik said.  "It was very glaring in terms of not being
able to handle the basketball, pass the basketball and shoot the
basketball."

Denver's 20 baskets marked the fewest in an NBA game this
season.

"Nobody shot the ball well," Bzdelik said.  "We had some open
shots we didn't make.  They got up and into us and exposed our
inability to pass the basketball, which we have a problem with."

With the win, the Suns opened a one-game lead over the Houston
Rockets for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western
Conference.

"We control our own destiny.  If we win out, we're in," Suns
coach Frank Johnson said.

"We are down to the last couple of games of this season," said
rookie Amare Stoudemire, who chipped in 16 points and nine
rebounds.  "Every game right now is very, very important.  We
are in the search for the eighth spot with Houston and they're
playing pretty good.  So we have to be on our toes all the time
for every game."

Marion made four of his five 3-pointers and scored 15 points in
the third quarter as Phoenix recorded its 19th victory in its
last 24 meetings with Denver.

"We try to come out with intensity every game and close it out
strong," Marion said.  "We did that tonight and now we just have
got to focus on the next one.  At this point in the season,
every game is important."

Not only did the Suns set the club mark for lowest field goal
percentage by an opponent, but they also matched their franchise
record for fewest points allowed in a game.  Phoenix also held
Chicago to 65 points on March 6, 1975.

Rookies Nene Hilario and Nikoloz Tskitishvili and reserve
forward-center Marcus Camby each scored 10 points for the
Nuggets, who have dropped six straight road games.

"You have to give respect to the Suns for how they played," said
Hilario, who grabbed 11 rebounds.  "But if you look at our
shooting percentage, we gave them a lot of points.  We just
missed a lot of shots and couldn't get back in the game."

Camby collected all 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting in the opening
half.  However, the rest of the Nuggets combined to go 5-of-34
from the floor as Denver trailed, 44-29, at halftime.

"We missed a lot of shots," Camby said.  "They ran through us,
trapping us.  We were turning the ball over and were forced to
take shots with the shot clock going down. ... They were
doubling every time we got the ball down low, trying to force
the ball out of our scorer's hands."

Juwan Howard, the Nuggets' leading scorer this season, had just
six points on 3-of-18 shooting.

The Suns gradually increased their advantage in the third.
Marion nailed a 3-pointer with 62 seconds to go in the period to
open a 68-47 cushion for Phoenix.

The Suns put together an 18-2 run during a five-minute span in
the fourth.  Rookie swingman Casey Jacobsen hit a jumper with 86
seconds left to give Phoenix its biggest lead of the contest,
91-60.