Stoudemire-Led Suns Send Hornets to Lows

One night after scoring 34 points at Dallas, Amare Stoudemire came back with a career-high 38 to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 95-84 victory Wednesday night over the winless Hornets at New Orleans.

And again he gave much of the credit to Steve Nash, who had 12 assists to go with his 16 points.

“With a point guard like Steve, the game comes a lot easier for me. He’s opened the game for everybody on the team. It’s a lot easier and a lot more fun,” Stoudemire said.

Stoudemire also shot 16 more free throws (10 of 18) than the New Orleans team. The Hornets’ two free throws tied an NBA low and broke the team mark they set in Milwaukee on Saturday night when they took only three free throws. Cleveland also went to the line only twice against Golden State on Nov. 26, 1994.

David Wesley’s 19 points led the Hornets, who are 0-7 under new Coach Byron Scott, the worst start in franchise history.

Orlando 107, Utah 92 -- Grant Hill scored 32 points, his most in 4 1/2 years, and Steve Francis had 33 points and 11 assists, both season highs, to lead the Magic at Orlando, Fla.

Seattle 79, New Jersey 68 -- Despite starting the first half 0 for 10 and the second half 0 for 8, the visiting SuperSonics won for the eighth time in a row behind 17 points from Rashard Lewis to improve the NBA’s best record to 8-1.

Detroit 93, Minnesota 85 -- Returning after sitting out a game because of an ankle sprain, Chauncey Billups had 15 of his 21 points in the pivotal third quarter at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Coach Larry Brown also returned after missing three games because of hip surgery, along with Ben Wallace, who had missed two games because of a death in his family.

Miami 113, Milwaukee 106 -- Shaquille O’Neal scored a season-high 26 points, and Eddie Jones had 27 at Miami to lead the Heat. Michael Redd had a season-high 33 points for Milwaukee.

Washington 110, Boston 105 -- Antawn Jamison had 27 points, and the Wizards shut out the Celtics for the first 4 minutes 47 seconds of overtime at Boston. Paul Pierce had 37 points for Boston.

Denver 112, Toronto 106 -- Carmelo Anthony scored 30 points at Denver, sending the Raptors to their fifth loss in six games since a 3-0 start.

Memphis 101, Portland 82 -- Former Trail Blazer Bonzi Wells, booed throughout, scored 25 points to lead the Grizzlies at Portland, Ore.

Indiana 93, Atlanta 86 -- Jermaine O’Neal had 25 points and 13 rebounds to offset former teammate Al Harrington’s 30 points in the Pacers’ victory at Indianapolis. Harrington was traded to the Hawks in the off-season.

Golden State 98, Chicago 85 -- Jason Richardson had 27 points at Oakland in a victory over the Bulls (0-6), who have gone 0-33 on their annual November trip west since Michael Jordan’s final season (1997-98) with the team.

*

Prosecutors in Denver dropped a marijuana possession charge against the Nuggets’ Anthony, saying it would be difficult to get a conviction after a friend claimed the drug was his, not Anthony’s. Anthony was charged Oct. 15.... New Orleans guard Baron Davis will sit out at least five games after being put on the injured list because of an inflamed disk in his lower back.