Suns clinch Pacific title with 76ers win
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-03-31 14:07

Steve Nash had a triple-double, Quentin Richardson set team records for 3-point shooting and the Phoenix Suns clinched their first Pacific Division title in 10 years by beating the Philadelphia 76ers 116-87 Wednesday night.

Philadelphia 76ers Allen Iverson, right, reaches in on Phoenix Suns Steve Nash, of Canada, during the third quarter, Wednesday, March 30, 2005, in Phoenix. The Suns beat the 76ers 116-87. [AP]

Nash, who played only 27 minutes, had a career-high 13 rebounds to go with 12 points and 12 assists. The stylish point guard drew a loud ovation with his 10th assist, a pass to Steven Hunter for a dunk that put Phoenix ahead 77-58 with 5:07 left in the third quarter.

Richardson broke Dan Majerle's franchise records for 3-pointers and 3-point attempts, set in 1994-95. Richardson went 4-for-11 from deep to finish with 201 made in 559 tries.

Majerle, a color commentator at courtside, pretended to wipe away a tear when Richardson made his 200th with 5:54 left in the second quarter.

Shawn Marion had 26 points and nine rebounds, Joe Johnson had 20 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, and Jim Jackson scored 19 points for Phoenix, which learned just after tipoff that its magic number was one because of Sacramento's loss at Detroit.

Allen Iverson had 26 points for the Sixers. Chris Webber scored 12, but hurt his shoulder in the third quarter. Andre Iguodala, with 10, was the only other Sixers starter in double figures.

The Suns had a 65-41 lead at halftime and were never threatened after that.

The Suns' other division titles came in 1980-91, 1992-93 and 1994-95, when they won 57, 62 and 59 games, respectively, for the three best marks in franchise history.

The Suns went on an 11-3 run to take a 27-21 lead with 1:55 left in the first quarter.

Philadelphia fought back, going up 33-32 on a jumper by Iverson with 8:10 remaining in the second.

But Jackson started a rally with three free throws, and Richardson took over, nailing three 3-pointers in a 2:09 span. Over the rest of the quarter, Phoenix outscored the Sixers 33-18, and Philadelphia's chances to rally dimmed when Webber went out 2:31 into the third quarter.

Webber's shoulder was X-rayed, but there was no immediate report on the findings.

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