(Tuesday, November 6th)

Final Score: Phoenix 115, Charlotte 83

Charlotte, NC (Sports Network) - Shawn Marion had 16 points and 11 rebounds, leading eight Suns in double figures, as Phoenix routed the Charlotte Bobcats, 115-83.

Raja Bell and Leandro Barbosa each also finished with 16 points for Phoenix, which has won three of four to start the season. Boris Diaw had 15 points and 11 assists for the Suns, who played without center Amare Stoudemire, who sat with a sore knee for the second straight game. Marcus Banks came off the bench and scored 14 points, and fellow reserve Sean Marks added 13 points.

Rookie Jared Dudley came off the bench and led Charlotte in both points and rebounds, with 16 and 11, respectively. Raymond Felton scored 12 points before leaving in the third quarter with a left knee injury for the Bobcats, who failed in their quest to start a season 3-0 for the first time in franchise history. Gerald Wallace also finished with 12 points for Charlotte.

The Suns took a 29-21 lead into the second quarter, when they blew the upstart Bobcats off the court. Two Barbosa buckets kicked off a 14-4 run in which they expanded their lead from eight points to 18. Barbosa scored eight points on the run, which closed with a Marion layup that put Phoenix ahead 45-27 with 4:35 left in the second quarter.

"That Phoenix team is a tough team," said Bobcats head coach Sam Vincent. "They play well together, and they've been together a long time. They just kind of overmatched us tonight."

The Suns led 59-37 at the half, and came out firing in the third quarter. The Suns scored seven straight to start the stanza, pushing their edge to 66-37 after Marion slammed home an alley-oop dunk with 9:33 remaining in the quarter. Phoenix then saw its lead expand to 34 points with 2:38 left in the quarter, after another Marion alley-oop, before the Bobcats finally made up some ground.

"We're still not clicking all the way, but we definitely did some good things tonight," said Suns head coach Mike D'Antoni.

The Suns never relented, though, outscoring Charlotte by 10 points in the second half to cruise to the 32-point win.

Game Notes

Phoenix is 7-0 all time against Charlotte, one of four teams that the Bobcats haven't beaten in their history. Memphis shot an even 50 percent (45-of-90) from the field...Charlotte outrebounded the Suns 51-31...X-rays and MRI results for Felton both came back negative for ligament damage, meniscus damage and a bone bruise. He is day to day.

11/07 02:16:28 ET