Steve Nash scored 30 points and had 10 assists to help the Phoenix Suns overcome a 12-point first-half deficit and record a 103-92 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday.

 

 

Minnesota Timberwolves' Ryan Gomes drives to the hoop in front of New York Knicks' Zach Randolph during their NBA action in New York on Sunday. The Knicks won 97-93.

 

Nash, who was 12 of 19 from the floor, had 10 points in the third quarter as the Suns fought back to grab a 69-64 lead after trailing by 12 points in the first half. He added 12 more points in the fourth.

 

"We're still trying to work to find a cohesion and a tempo so I try to be aggressive for these first few games and not be passive and watch us struggle," Nash told reporters.

 

"I thought the second half tonight was a little better. It is going to be better when we make some shots."

 

The win came without All-Star center Amare Stoudemire, who was sidelined because of soreness in his right knee. He had arthroscopic surgery on the knee on October 2.

 

High-scoring LeBron James led the Cavaliers with 27 points, 21 coming in the second half.

 

"I thought Grant (Hill) did a great job on LeBron James almost all night," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said.

 

"Whatever you can do to slow him down and to not put him on the foul line, that helps."

 

Shawn Marion contributed 23 points and 12 rebounds for the Suns (2-1), who bounced back from a 98-119 home loss to the Los Angeles Lakers last Friday. Leandro Barbosa scored 14 points, and Boris Diaw, who started in place of Stoudemire had 16.

 

Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Drew Gooden each had 22 points for Cleveland (1-2). Gooden pulled down 14 rebounds and Ilgauskas had 13.

 

In other National Basketball Association games, it was: Celtics 98, Raptors 95 (in overtime); Pistons 92, Hawks 91; Clippers 115, SuperSonics 101; Bobcats 90, Heat 88; Hornets 93, Nuggets 88; Knicks 97, Timberwolves 93; and Lakers 119, Jazz 109.

 

In Toronto, Ray Allen made the winning 3-pointer with less than 3 seconds to play, finished with 33 points and Boston won without coach Doc Rivers at the helm.

 

Kevin Garnett scored 10 of his 23 points in overtime and added 13 rebounds, giving him double-doubles in both of his games for Boston this season.

 

Paul Pierce added 13 points for Boston (2-0), and James Posey had 11. T.J. Ford led Toronto (2-1) with 32 points, and Chris Bosh had 19 points and 10 rebounds.

 

The Celtics played without Rivers, who left Toronto early on Sunday after his father died in Chicago. Assistant Tom Thibodeau took over for Rivers.

 

At Auburn Hills, Michigan, Chauncey Billups hit a free throw with 1.7 seconds left to give Detroit a come-from-behind victory over Atlanta.

 

The Pistons trailed in their home opener by nine points entering the fourth, but dominated the first 11 minutes of the final period before a late Hawks rally.

 

Billups finished with 22 points and Richard Hamilton added 21 in his season debut. Jason Maxiell added 15 points and eight rebounds for Detroit, which overcame three starters scoring in single digits to go 3-0.

 

Joe Johnson led the Hawks with 23 points.

 

In Los Angeles, Corey Maggette scored 27 points and Tim Thomas made three 3-pointers during a one-minute span late in the fourth quarter to lead Los Angeles over Seattle.

 

Thomas finished with 20 points, Cuttino Mobley added 17 points and Chris Kaman had 15 rebounds for the Clippers, who were coming off a season-opening 120-114 win over Golden State on Friday.

 

Kevin Durant scored 24 points to lead Seattle, which is 0-3 for the first time since 1985-86. Durant is averaging 23 points and 36.3 minutes.

 

(Agencies via Shanghai Daily November 6, 2007)