SACRAMENTO, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Amare Stoudemire scored 20 points and had nine rebounds to lead the Phoenix Suns to their 14th straight win, a 105-98 victory over the Sacramento Kings.
Kurt Thomas scored 18 points off of the bench for Phoenix, and Steve Nash contributed 16 points and 12 assists. Raja Bell scored 15 points, Shawn Marion added 14 and Boris Diaw scored 12 points.
Kevin Martin scored 23 points for the Kings, who lost two of three. John Salmons scored 20, and Ron Artest finished with 16 points for Sacramento. Mike Bibby scored 14 points and tallied seven assists, and Francisco Garcia added 12 points off of the bench. Kenny Thomas had 11 points and 13 rebounds.
Phoenix led by as many as 12 in the fourth. The Kings drew to within five, 103-98, with 1:22 left in the game but did not score again after that.
Phoenix took control of the game in the third quarter, outscoring the Kings 35-23 in the quarter to take an 80-73 lead into the final 12 minutes.
Sacramento lead most of the first half, and had a 50-45 lead at halftime.
