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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
PHOENIX (AP) – Tom Gugliotta had felt his physical improvement
in recent weeks. Now he got a mental boost.
|  | | Nuggets forward Kevin Willis reacts after getting the ball knocked from his hands in the second quarter. |
Gugliotta responded to his first start of the year with a
season-high 19 points and 13 rebounds Saturday night as the Phoenix
Suns rallied for a 97-82 victory over the Denver Nuggets.
The Nuggets played the fourth quarter without leading scorer
Antonio McDyess, who partially dislocated his left kneecap late in
the first half. McDyess, who played the third quarter with the
injury, finished with nine points and seven rebounds.
"I was running so fast and I just planted and felt a sharp,
sharp pain go through my knee," McDyess said. "It was my decision
to try and see how it felt. When I walk it's fine. But when I try
to run and plant and move and jump, that's the only thing."
The Suns, who had lost two straight, moved a half-game ahead of
the idle Minnesota Timberwolves for seventh place in the Western
Conference. Denver trails the Timberwolves by six games for the
conference's eighth and final playoff spot.
Gugliotta ruptured the anterior and medial collateral ligaments
in his left knee on March 10, 2000, and underwent reconstructive
surgery seven days later. He was activated on Nov. 17 and appeared
in 33 games, but had not started since the injury.
"Over the past couple of weeks I've felt really good, like I'm
getting my legs beneath me," said Gugliotta, who was 6-for-11 from
the floor. "I feel my game's coming along and as I'm more
comfortable, I can be stronger on the court and be more of an
aggressor on the court than just a role player."
Clifford Robinson scored a team-high 20 points, Rodney Rogers
had 18, Vinny Del Negro finished with 12 and Tony Delk added 11 for
Phoenix. Jason Kidd finished with seven points and a season-high 19
assists.
"The assists are for my teammates," said Kidd, who matched his
top assist total with the Suns. "If they make the shots, I feed
them the ball. That's always been my job in this league."
Nick Van Exel scored 22 points but was scoreless in the fourth
quarter for Denver, which lost for the 15th time in 20 games.
Raef Lafrentz's 15-foot jump shot allowed the Nuggets to extend
a five-point halftime lead to 52-46 with 7:25 left in the third
quarter.
On Denver's next possession, however, Robinson blocked Ryan
Bowen's shot and the momentum turned. Rogers hit consecutive
baskets and Del Negro added three straight as the Suns rallied to a
57-57 tie with 3:45 left in the period.
Rogers added four more points and Delk scored six as Phoenix
outscored the Nuggets 13-4 from that point to take a 70-61 lead
into the fourth quarter.
The Suns led by as many as 20 in the fourth quarter.
"When you stop people, you can go down and get easier looks,"
said Suns coach Scott Skiles. "The basket opens up for you. When
you have confidence you can stop people, everything opens up."
Robinson scored nine points in the first quarter as Phoenix took
a 22-21 lead. The Suns still led by one, 28-27, with 8:04 left in
the first half when the Nuggets rallied.
George McCloud's 18-foot jump shot gave the Nuggets a 29-28
lead. Robert Pack hit consecutive jumpers from just inside the
3-point line and McDyess added a three-point play as Denver took a
38-30 lead with 5:21 to go in the half.
Game notes
Preliminary X-rays on McDyess' left knee were negative and
he is listed as day-to-day. ... The Suns have won 15 of 16 meetings
between the teams, including the last six straight. ... The Nuggets
were whistled for three technicals -- Kevin Willis and coach Dan
Issel were hit in the second quarter and Van Exel was called for one in the third. ... Phoenix scored 30 points in the third
quarter after scoring 40 in the first half. ... Kidd also had 19
assists at Seattle on March 4, 1999.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Denver Clubhouse
Phoenix Clubhouse
Wrist injury keeps Suns' Marion from playing vs. Nuggets
RECAPS
LA Lakers 98
Vancouver 88
Dallas 100
Houston 95
Milwaukee 126
Chicago 122
San Antonio 124
Atlanta 95
Phoenix 97
Denver 82
Portland 122
Golden State 91
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Nick Van Exel lights up the Suns for 22 points.
avi: 658 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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