LOS ANGELES, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Stephon Marbury scored a season-high 40 points, lifting the Phoenix Suns to a 113-105 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
An All-Star point guard, Marbury made 15-of-23 shots while collecting nine assists and five steals. In his 11th career 40-point game, he destroyed Clippers guards Marko Jaric, Doug Overton and Keyon Dooling as he came within three points of his best output with the Suns.
Marbury, whose career high is 50 points with New Jersey in February 2001, scored 43 vs. San Antonio Nov. 29, 2002 and against New York Feb. 14, 2003.
Marbury scored 22 points in the first half, helping Phoenix to a 58-51 lead. He added 16 in the third quarter, when the Suns built the advantage to 18 points.
The outburst helped the Suns snap an eight-game road losing streak and improve to 4-7 under D'Antoni.
Shawn Marion scored 17 points for Phoenix, who shot 53 percent (46-of-87) to overcome a 48-33 deficit on the backboards.
