Apparently, all the Suns needed was a day of rest. Two days after their first back-to-back test of the season found them flat and easy prey for Orlando and their first loss of the season, the Suns had their jump, their shooting touch and their killer instinct back. And they needed all of it to knock the Celtics from the ranks of the unbeaten. Jason Richardson and Grant Hill, who combined for zero points against the Magic, reappeared and put up 46 points against Boston. Richardson had the lion's share with a season-high 34 points and six of Phoenix's 13 three-pointers.
The Suns shot at least 50 percent in three of the four quarters to keep the offensive pressure on the Celtics and matched Boston and the likes of Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins on the boards with Richardson getting 10 rebounds himself. In the end, the Suns put up 110 points in Boston without Leandro Barbosa and are now 2-1 at the turn of a very difficult Eastern road swing.
Phoenix gets another day off before a Sunday matinee against the Wizards. It's been a while since the Suns have seen the oft-injured Gilbert Arenas, who put up 54 points on them in one game. But Washington is off to a 2-4 start and has lost three straight and the Suns can ensure a winning trip with a victory.
SUNS 110, CELTICS 103: Jason Richardson bounced back from just the third scoreless game of his career to record his first double-double in Phoenix. And the Suns needed all of his 34 points and 10 rebounds to hand the Celtics their first loss of the season. Amare Stoudemire had 22 points and Steve Nash added 16 points and 12 assists as the Suns won for the fifth time in six games and the second time in three tries on this five-game road trip.
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