Suns Turn Up the Heat and Beat Grizzlies

The Phoenix Suns erased a five-point deficit with a 14-4 run over the final 4:04 to beat the Memphis Grizzlies, 108-103, Wednesday night at Phoenix and take a 2-0 lead in the first-round Western Conference series.

Amare Stoudemire, who scored only nine points in the series opener, had 34 points and 10 rebounds, including 18 of 22 free throws. The Grizzlies sent Phoenix to the line 40 times, and the Suns made 32 of them.

Shawn Marion, playing despite a sprained right wrist, had 22 points for Phoenix, including a pair of 15-footers that gave the Suns the lead for good.

Quentin Richardson had 15 points, and had a big blocked shot in the final minute.

Steve Nash had 12 points and 15 assists. His two free throws with 9.1 seconds to play put Phoenix ahead, 106-103, then after a timeout, Mike Miller missed what would have been the game-tying three-pointer from the corner, and Richardson finished it off with two free throws.

Pau Gasol overpowered the smaller Suns most of the night for 28 points and 16 rebounds, both career playoff bests. Jason Williams scored 21, also a career playoff high, but was scoreless in the fourth quarter.

James Posey made one of two free throws to cut it to 103-100 with 1:46 left. Richardson blocked Gasol’s 10-footer with 37 seconds remaining, then was fouled and made one of two free throws with 15.8 seconds to go.

Miller, scoreless up to that point, made a three-point basket to cut the lead to 104-103 with 10 seconds left.

Nash, an 89% free-throw shooter, made two with 9.1 seconds to go to put the Suns ahead, 106-103.

Chicago 113, Washington 103 -- Kirk Hinrich found his shooting touch and the Bulls are headed to Washington with a 2-0 lead over the Wizards in their opening-round Eastern Conference playoff series.

Hinrich scored 21 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter at Chicago and the Bulls overcame a strong start by the Wizards.

Hinrich rebounded from an eight-for-23 shooting night in Chicago’s 103-94 win in the opener Sunday night, making 12 of 15 shots and keying key runs at the end of the first half and beginning of the final quarter.

Hinrich scored 10 points in the first 2:40 of the final quarter, making two three-pointers, a jumper and a layup to spark a 12-3 run that gave the Bulls a 93-73 lead.

Gilbert Arenas, held to nine points in the opener, scored 39 -- 16 in the fourth quarter.