Robinson Makes Amends for Suns

After sitting out the final minutes of a game the night before for what Phoenix Coach Scott Skiles perceived as too little effort, Clifford Robinson made sure he stayed on the floor against the Houston Rockets.

It was good for the Suns that he did.

Robinson scored a season-high 30 points and the Suns withstood a 19-point fourth quarter by Cuttino Mobley to beat the Rockets, 104-99, Sunday night at Phoenix.

“I was talking to the staff saying he hadn’t shot well this year, and tonight he goes out and gets 30 points,” Skiles said. “I never really worry about him. He’s the kind of player you don’t get too concerned with, because he brings it every day and every night.”

Mobley, a reserve guard who finished with 27 points, got the Rockets to 98-95 on a short jumper in the lane with 46 seconds remaining.

But he fouled out 18 seconds later, and Robinson made two free throws to give Phoenix breathing room.

Rodney Rogers had 18 points as the Suns won their third straight after an opening loss, and Jason Kidd had 18 points and nine assists.

Steve Francis scored a season-high 24 points for Houston, which lost for the third time in four games this season.

Houston Coach Rudy Tomjanovich said Kidd was the key.

“He epitomizes what a winner is all about,” Tomjanovich said. “He just plays the game and gets lost in the game. He just can help you in so many ways.”

Notes

Orlando Magic forward Grant Hill’s injured ankle will sideline him for at least the next two weeks--and possibly longer. “There’s no timetable,” team spokesman George Galante said. “It could be two weeks, it could be two months.” Hill is still recovering from ankle surgery in May.