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 Filling in nicely Garrity scores career-high 25 as Suns end Spurs' win streak
Posted: Sunday April 11, 1999 01:28 AM
PHOENIX (AP) -- Tom Gugliotta's misfortune has been a big break for Pat Garrity, and the Phoenix Suns' rookie has made the most of it. Garrity, starting in place of the injured Gugliotta, scored a career-high 25 points Saturday night as the Suns snapped San Antonio's six-game winning streak, 110-84. With Gugliotta, the starting power forward, and starting center Luc Longley both out with injuries, the Suns looked to be in for a long night against the Spurs' Tim Duncan and David Robinson. Instead, Phoenix got big games from five players who combined for 90 points as the Suns handed San Antonio only its third loss in 21 games. "I love the challenge," said Jason Kidd, who had 15 points, on 7-for-9 shooting, and 14 assists. "I thrive in situations where we're outmanned and outgunned. That brings out the best in me, and tonight it did for my teammates, too." Especially Garrity, who was 11-for-16 from the field, including two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter when the Suns outscored San Antonio 32-18. His previous high was 16 points. "Most of it was just getting comfortable out there," said Garrity, who came to Phoenix in the trade that sent Steve Nash to Dallas. "When I was getting out there earlier in the season, I was kind of nervous, real jittery. Now I've learned to just relax." Cliff Robinson, atoning for the foul on Karl Malone's last-second 3-pointer that cost the Suns a victory Friday night in Utah, scored 22 points and shut down Sean Elliott, who had six points. Rex Chapman, who entered the game shooting just 33 percent from the field, added 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting, including 3-for-6 from 3-point range. Danny Manning came off the bench for 14 points and 13 rebounds. San Antonio's big front-line size advantage never made much difference. Duncan scored 14 points in the first quarter but only seven the rest of the game. "They played a great defensive scheme," Duncan said. "They came down on me early and just didn't give me the looks I wanted to get." David Robinson was scoreless in the first half and finished with four points on 1-for-9 shooting. "You don't get shots if you don't make them, and I wasn't making the shots," Robinson said. Malik Rose scored 13 and Mario Elie 11 for San Antonio. "Maybe we were due one of these, I don't know," San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. The two teams play again Monday night in San Antonio. With the game tied 49-49 at halftime, the Suns scored 11 straight points to go up 62-53 on Cliff Robinson's 3-pointer with 7:05 left in the third quarter. Garrity scored six during the spurt, and the Suns stretched the lead to 78-66 by the end of the period. San Antonio never got closer than 10 after that. The Spurs fell behind 19-10, but used runs of 8-0 and 9-0 to go ahead 33-27 on Steve Kerr's free throw after a technical was called against Phoenix coach Danny Ainge. But the Suns, behind Kidd, Manning and Robinson, didn't fade. A 10-2 spurt put Phoenix ahead 44-40 with 2:53 left in the half on Cliff Robinson's driving bank shot over David Robinson. Elie had a 3-pointer and a 2-pointer as San Antonio outscored Phoenix 9-5 the rest of the quarter. Notes: Gugliotta missed his fifth game with a hyperextended right knee. He may return when the Suns play Monday. ... Longley, hurt in the Suns' 93-92 loss at Utah Friday, has bone contusions and a sprained left knee. ... Phoenix is 2-1 against San Antonio this season and has won seven of the last nine regular-season meetings. However, the Spurs won last year's first-round playoff series over Phoenix 3-1. ... Cliff Robinson has scored 79 points in his last three home games. ... The Suns started Joe Kleine against Robinson at center. Both finished with four points and four rebounds .... Phoenix outscored San Antonio 61-35 in the second half.
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