- (Sports Network) - The Phoenix Suns attempt to get back on the winning track Friday when they travel to Sacramento to face the Kings at ARCO Arena. Houston's Tracy McGrady scored 27 points -- including 15 in the third quarter -- to lead the Rockets to a 94-82 win over the Suns in a game marred by a fracas toward the end of the third quarter Wednesday.

With 27.6 seconds left in the third, McGrady hit a three-pointer to give the Rockets a commanding 74-55 advantage, but a melee broke between Phoenix's Matt Barnes and Houston's Rafer Alston.

To the right of McGrady, Barnes appeared to shove Alston, who was setting a pick. After the play, Alston came back and had some words for Barnes.

McGrady came in to defend his teammate and shoved Phoenix guard Steve Nash to the floor. Suns center Shaquille O'Neal immediately came in and pushed McGrady to the floor. Suns head coach Terry Porter was able to break up the fight afterwards, and no punches were thrown.

The Barnes push was apparently in retaliation for a screen McGrady had set earlier, which caused Steve Nash to suffer a gash on his neck. Nash, O'Neal and McGrady all received technical fouls, while Alston and Barnes were ejected.

O'Neal notched another milestone on his stellar career during the game, passing John Havlicek for 10th on the all-time points list midway through the third quarter. With 18 points in the contest, O'Neal now has 26,402 for his career. He also added 13 rebounds and four blocks in the game.

Amare Stoudemire added 11 points and nine rebounds for the Suns, who had a two-game winning streak snapped. Leandro Barbosa had 18 points, while Nash finished with 10 points in the loss. The Suns didn't register any fast-break points in the game.

Phoenix will be without Barbosa on Friday. The guard has returned to his native Brazil following the passing of his mother, Ivete, and his return is undetermined.

Barbosa, the 2006-07 NBA Sixth Man of the Year, is averaging 10.9 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists in nine games this season.

The Kings won for the fourth time in five games and for the first time on the road Wednesday when Beno Udrih poured in a career-high 30 points and doled out seven assists to lead Sacramento past the Los Angeles Clippers, 103-98, from Staples Center.

Rookie Jason Thompson and Brad Miller both scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, while Miller also dished out eight assists for the Kings, who have won four of their last five after dropping their first four of the season. John Salmons had 13 points in victory.

The Kings remain without their leading scorer Kevin Martin, who will again sit out tonight's game with a sprained ankle.

The Suns have recently dominated the series between the two teams, winning four straight and nine of the last 10 meetings.



Copyright 2008 The Sports Network
All rights reserved