Marion Paces Suns Past Kings

Team	1	2	3	4					Full Time
Suns	29	26	28	27					110
Kings	18	28	26	27					99

Phoenix 110, Sacramento 99

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Oct. 11 (AP) -- Shawn Marion had 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Phoenix Suns as they opened the preseason with a convincing 110-99 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night.

With Grant Hill getting 17 points and eight rebounds in his first game in a Phoenix uniform, the Suns were off and running from the start, outscoring the Kings 29-18 in the first quarter and led the rest of the way.

Hill, who signed as a free agent in the offseason, appeared to have no problem adjusting to the Suns' uptempo pace, taking 11 first-half shots and scoring 13 points to help the Suns to a 55-46 lead.

Both Kevin Martin and Quincy Douby scored 17 points for the Kings (1-1). Mike Bibby had 10 points and led Sacramento with seven rebounds.

The Kings had trouble stopping the Suns and were also unsuccessful at the free-throw line, converting 13 of 23 attempts.

Disgruntled in the offseason and in trade rumors for much of the summer, Marion looked as motivated as any Suns player, making 7-of-10 shots and adding four assists and two blocks.

Leandro Barbosa scored 14 points and Sean Marks added 13 points and nine rebounds for Phoenix, which made 13 of 26 3-point shots. Raja Bell and Marcus Banks both scored 13 points and Boris Diaw had 10.

Seemingly content to look for teammates all game instead of shoot, Steve Nash had 11 assists and scored three points, taking just three shots.

Last year's leading scorer for Phoenix, Amare Stoudemire, recently had arthroscopic knee surgery and watched the game in street clothes.

source : NBA.com