Rising Suns spoil Sixers’ home opener

Amare Stoudemire scored 29 points, Shawn Marion had 24, and Joe Johnson 22 to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 108-98 win over the Philadelphia 76ers in the Sixers’ Friday night home debut.

The young, athletic Suns have made an early effect, pounding Atlanta in a 30-point win and running out to a 21-point, first-half lead against the Sixers. With arms flailing everywhere on a hustling defense and an up-tempo, fast-breaking offense, Phoenix seems ready to prove it can challenge for a playoff berth.

Allen Iverson led the Sixers with 25 points.

Raptors 101, Pistons 89: At Toronto, Loren Woods had 17 points and a career-high 14 rebounds, and Vince Carter scored seven of 12 points in the final three minutes to help Toronto to a victory over Detroit.

Pacers 100, Celtics 94: At Boston, Ron Artest scored 28 points and Jermaine O’Neal added 19 to lead shorthanded Indiana past Boston. Ricky Davis finished with 22 points and Mark Blount added 18 for Boston.

Rockets 89, Grizzlies 81: At Memphis, Tenn., Tracy McGrady scored 30 points and had nine assists, leading Houston past Memphis.

Magic 90, Hornets 89: At New Orleans, Steve Francis hit his second game-winner with 2.7 seconds left as Orlando beat New Orleans.

Nets 111, Bulls 106 (2OT): At Chicago, Alonzo Mourning made back-to-back layups in the second overtime to lead New Jersey over Chicago. Richard Jefferson had 26 points and a career-high 21 rebounds for the Nets.

Trail Blazers 94, Clippers 81: At Portland, Ore., Theo Ratliff tied both his career and the franchise mark with nine blocked shots as Portland beat Los Angeles. Chris Wilcox led the Clippers with 27 points and 10 rebounds.

Jazz 102, Warriors 80: At Oakland, Calif., Keith McLeod had 17 points and 10 assists, and Carlos Boozer added 16 points and nine rebounds in Utah’s victory over Golden State. Derek Fisher scored 15 of his 17 points in the second quarter to lead the Warriors.

Spurs 105, Lakers 96: At Los Angeles, Tim Duncan had a double-double, with 26 point and 16 rebounds, to lead San Antonio past Los Angeles. Four other Spurs scored in double figures. The Lakers were led by Kobe Bryant’s 28 points.

Mourning wants buyout

Uncertain of how long he’ll be able to play after having a kidney transplant, Alonzo Mourning has asked the New Jersey Nets about a contract buyout so he could go to a team with a better chance of winning.

But Nets president Rod Thorn said the sides are so far apart “it’s a dead issue.”

“All I can do is continue to try and do what I do best, that’s play the game of basketball,” Mourning said before the Nets’ game against Chicago. “I’m willing to sacrifice a ton of money in order to continue to do this somewhere else. Evidently they don’t see it as an appropriate number for them. They want more.”

Former Cougar drafted

Former Washington State point guard Marcus Moore was among 60 players selected in the 2004 National Basketball Development League draft held in Atlanta. The Florida Flame selected Moore on the fifth pick in the third round (17th overall).