USA - Stoudemire, Suns spoil Sonics' homecoming

Standings

NEW YORK (NBA) - Amare Stoudemire scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 106-99 victory over the Seattle SuperSonics and rookie Kevin Durant on Thursday.

Trailing 82-79 after three quarters, Phoenix turned to Stoudemire, who scored six points during an 11-4 run to open the fourth quarter as the Suns took an 93-86 lead with 6:24 remaining in the game.

The two-time All-Star, who was named to the All-NBA team for the first time in his career last season, scored 10 points in all during the quarter in which Phoenix outscored Seattle 27-17.

Durant, who scored 18 points in his NBA debut in a loss at Denver on Wednesday, matched that mark by half-time.

After scoring 903 points in his lone season at the University of Texas, the second-best freshman total in college basketball, Durant finished with 27 points on 11-of-23 shooting from the field - including two three-pointers - and three-of-four from the free-throw line.

Elsewhere in the Western Conference, Tracy McGrady scored 47 points as the Houston Rockets spoiled the Utah Jazz's home opener after recording a 106-95 victory.

McGrady, who averaged 25.3 points per game against the Jazz in Houston's seven-game series last season, had eclipsed that mark by half-time, scoring 26 on his way to besting his previous career high of 44 points against Utah.

He finished the game 17-of-27 from the field and 11-of-14 from the line en route to his highest point total since he scored 48 against the Dallas Mavericks in December 2004, while Yao Ming was held to just 11 points and committed six turnovers.

In the Eastern Conference, Tayshaun Prince contributed a career high 34 points and tied a career high with 12 rebounds as the Detroit Pistons pulled away from the Miami Heat to post a 91-80 victory.

It was the 14th consecutive loss - including the pre-season - for the Heat, who were defeated in their home opener for the second consecutive year.

Chauncey Billups added 19 points and 11 assists for the Pistons, who used a 12-0 run to break the game open.

With the score tied 62-62 with 1:13 left in the third quarter, Detroit held the Heat scoreless for nearly six and a half minutes as they took a 74-62 advantage with 7:39 to play.

Prince scored 16 of his points in the first half as the Pistons took a 48-42 lead after two quarters. He finished the game shooting 13-of-23 from the field.

Ricky Davis led Miami in his first game with the Heat, scoring 23 points on 10-of-19 shooting.

Shaquille O'Neal was held scoreless in the first half and finished with nine points and seven rebounds in 29 minutes.

FIBA