(AP) PHOENIX — Amare Stoudemire scored 30 points for the third consecutive game and the Phoenix Suns beat the Indiana Pacers 113-105 on Saturday night for the 1,900th victory in franchise history in a game marred by two fights and eight technical fouls.
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Things got heated with 46.7 seconds remaining in the third period when the Pacers' Earl Watson appeared to push the Suns' Channing Frye. Indiana's Danny Granger then took a swipe at Frye, who swung back. The Pacers' Roy Hibbert and the Suns' Jason Richardson joined the altercation, and both were hit with technicals, along with Granger. Frye was assessed two technical fouls, an automatic ejection.
For the remainder of the game, Granger was booed every time he touched the ball.
Things were also testy midway through the second period when Indiana's Josh McRoberts and Phoenix's Louis Amundson scuffled. Both received technicals.
Early in the fourth quarter, Indiana coach Jim O'Brien was hit with a technical for arguing with officials.
Grant Hill added 22 points for the Suns, Jason Richardson had 20 points and 10 rebounds, and Jared Dudley also had a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
Granger led the Pacers with 24 points, Hibbert scored 22, including 12 for 12 from the foul line, and Troy Murphy had 19 points and 16 rebounds.
The game began with poor shooting as the Suns began 5 for 15 and the Pacers 4 for 20. After that, the Suns' marksmanship improved dramatically and finished the half at 52.6 percent (20 for 38) with a 63-57 lead, while Indiana wound up at 34.7 percent (17 for 49).
The Pacers cut into a 12-point deficit at 63-51 with 3-pointers by Granger and Earl Watson, who stole an inbounds pass from Amundson, in the final 2.8 seconds.
Indiana stayed close with the aid of its offensive rebounding. The Pacers had 24 second-chance points off 10 offensive boards.
Stoudemire had 17 points at the half, including nine straight during a two-minute span late in the second quarter.
NOTES: The Pacers were without two of their big men: Jeff Foster (sore lower back) and Tyler Hansbrough (inner ear infection), while the Suns were missing their top two backup guards: Goran Dragic (right ankle sprain) and Leandro Barbosa (right wrist surgery). ... Indiana's Mike Dunleavy left midway through the third period with a bruised chest. ... After facing the Pacers, the Suns will not play until Friday, a rare five-day break at this time of the season. ... The Pacers have used 22 starting lineups this season.
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