Stoudamire, Grizzlies torch Suns

Damon Stoudamire finally found his outside shooting touch, and the Memphis Grizzlies are off to their best start in franchise history.

Stoudamire scored 12 of his 26 points on 5-of-6 shooting in the fourth quarter and the Grizzlies won their third in a row, 115-103, over the Suns on Wednesday night in Phoenix, to improve to 6-3.

Mike Miller, questionable before the game because of a bruised right knee, added 24 for the Grizzlies, who were swept by Phoenix in the first round of last season's playoffs. That team, of course, had Amare Stoudemire, who is out until at least mid-February following knee surgery.

In his absence, the Suns were outplayed at their own, run-and-shoot game by a Memphis team that averaged under 90 points a game through the first eight contests.

"We let them have the opportunities just because I don't think we played hard enough tonight," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said, "and that's hard to say because that's the first time in about 80 or 90 games that I've thought that way."

Stoudamire, shooting just 30 percent coming into the game and 4-for-17 on 3-pointers, was 11-for-19 overall. He made two of three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.

"It's good to see Damon's stroke coming back," Memphis coach Mike Fratello said. "If we get him shooting the ball obviously it's a very, very key thing for us."

The Grizzlies, getting open shots all night as the Suns double-teamed Pau Gasol, took the lead for good in the second quarter and were up by as many as 18 in the fourth.

"I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little concerned about my rhythm the first six, seven games, but I knew it would come," Stoudamire said. "Tonight was a good start for me and I'll just try to build on this game."

Miller, injured in the fourth quarter of Memphis' victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night, scored 16 in the first half and finished 9-for-14 shooting, mostly from outside.

"It was a little sore but it's part of it," Miller said. "I went out there and played and got it warm. I didn't come out of the game much so it stayed warm."

Shane Battier added 18 points and 12 rebounds, and Bobby Jackson 16 points for Memphis.

Phoenix fell to 1-4 at home, 1-3 on its five-game home stand. Shawn Marion had 23 points and 11 rebounds and Steve Nash 17 points and 13 assists for Phoenix. Leandro Barbosa added 17 points and James Jones 14.

Eddie Jones' 3-pointer to start the fourth quarter put Memphis up 88-70.