Recap: Phoenix vs. Atlanta
Sports Network | October 08, 2008
Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - Marvin Williams scored 19 points, hauled in six rebounds and dished out four assists to lead the Atlanta Hawks in a 100-96 victory over the Phoenix Suns in preseason action.
Josh Smith added 18 points for the Hawks, who opened their preseason campaign with a 118-101 victory over Orlando on Monday. Joe Johnson added 14 points and Ronald Murray 13 in victory.
Shaquille O'Neal registered game-highs with 21 points and 10 boards for the Suns, who opened their preseason on a sour note. Alando Tucker added 14 points, while Matt Barnes and Louis Amundson each scored 12 in defeat.
The Suns, who were playing without Amare Stoudemire (torn iris in his right eye) and Leandro Barbosa (personal reasons), were unable to give new head coach Terry Porter a win in his preseason debut with the team.
![Extra, extra, read all about it: Steve Nash had an epiphany during off-season, announces immediate retirement to start new career as a mean hockey player for the Phoenix RoadRunners. "I realized I always admired Wayne Gretzky growing up. Hey, I'm Canadian. Larry O'Brien Trophy? Phew. Why should I care about winning an NBA title when I can win a Stanley Cup in like five years?"
Terry Porter in an initial reaction: Of course we were shocked when we saw Steve come in today in a hockey jersey to announce his decision. The Big Cactus was sobbing. It will be tough, but we will get over it. He is such a great human being who has done so much for this ball club that it would be cruel to stop him from fulfilling his childhood dream. I'm confident Goran Dragic can start just as well for us. [Pausing] You don't happen to have Marbury's number? Or maybe Tinsley's? Can somebody please stop that whiner Kerr from screaming 'I knew it, we are toast'?
In other news, Boris Diaw now looks, uhm, different.
And Shaq has a new goofy sidekick.](http://assets.sbnation.com/fan_shot_images/16931/mediaday08_bg_nash_runners_small.jpg)
New FanShot