Los Angeles - Jason Richardson sees red every time he sees a green Boston Celtics jersey. Richardson exploded for 34 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, as the Phoenix Suns sent the Celtics to their first loss of the season, with a 110-103 road victory on Friday night.
Richardson went scoreless against Orlando on Wednesday night as the Suns suffered their first loss of the season. However, he bounced back with his sixth career 30-point game against the Celtics.
"It was a feeling tonight, like everything you throw up is going to go in," said Richardson, who hit 10-of-16 shots, including six of seven three-pointers. "I wanted to come out, be aggressive and take it from there."
"Richardson just kicked our butts," Celtics head coach Doc Rivers said. "He loves us, he's a scorer."
Amare Stoudemire scored 22 points for Phoenix (5-1) while Steve Nash added 16, 12 assists and a critical three-pointer in the final minute.
Kevin Garnett had a season-best 26 points. Ray Allen and Paul Pierce added 16 apiece, while Rajon Rondo finished with 14 and 11 assists for the Celtics (6-1), who were seeking a 7-0 start for the second time in the last three seasons..
"We have a long way to go, but don't take anything away from what we have done," Garnett said. "We lost tonight, and it is what it is.
"We fought hard for those wins, just like we fought hard tonight, but unfortunately it didn't come out our way."
Richardson opened the fourth quarter with eight straight Suns' points, including his sixth three and a conventional three-point play, extended a two-point lead to 93-85.
After Garnett's reverse layup with 2:29 left drew the Celtics to within 104-100, Rondo had a chance to pull the hosts to within a bucket. However, Stoudemire blocked his layup.
Nash, then, nailed a three-point dagger over Rondo from the left wing with 51 seconds left, pushing it to 107-100. Ahead by four, Stoudemire hit two free throws in the final 16 seconds to ice the win.
Elsewhere in the NBA:
Miami Heat 96, Denver Nuggets 88
Dwyane Wade scored 22 points, Jermaine O'Neal had 18 and the Heat (5-1) handed the visiting Nuggets their first loss of the season.
Carmelo Anthony had a game-high 30 points for Denver (5-1) which was denied its first 6-0 start since the 1985-86 campaign.
LA Lakers 114, Memphis Grizzlies 98
Kobe Bryant scored 41 points for the third consecutive game, and the NBA champion Lakers cruised to their fourth straight victory, without injured big men Andrew Bynum (elbow) and Spain's Pau Gasol (strained hamstring).
Rudy Gay led visiting Memphis (1-5) with 22 points and Zach Randolph added 21 with 15 rebounds.
Cleveland Cavaliers 100, New York Knicks 91
LeBron James had 19 of his 33 points in the decisive opening quarter, along with nine assists and eight rebounds, as the visiting Cavaliers (4-3) rolled to their fourth win in the last five games.
David Lee poured in 21 points for New York (1-5) which trailed 40- 21 after one.
Houston Rockets 105, Oklahoma City Thunder 94
Carl Landry and Trevor Ariza scored 21 points, Argentine Luis Scola had 19 with 10 rebounds, carrying the Rockets to their 11th consecutive victory over the visiting Thunder.
Russell Westbrook poured in 33 points for Oklahoma City (2-3) and Kevin Durant added 27
Toronto Raptors 107, New Orleans Hornets 90
Chris Bosh tossed in 27 points, and the Raptors (3-2) hit 14-of-29 from behind the arc to rout the host Hornets.
Chris Paul topped New Orleans (2-4) with 21 points and 18 assists.
Milwaukee Bucks 87, Minnesota Timberwolves 72
Australian Andrew Bogut had 17 points with 10 rebounds, and the visiting Bucks (2-2) handed the Timberwolves (1-5) their fifth straight loss.
Philadelphia 76ers 97, New Jersey Nets 94
Lou Williams scored 18 points, Andre Iguodala added 16, including a key three-point play late in the game, and the Sixers sent the winless Nets to their worst start in franchise history.
Brook Lopez led visiting New Jersey (0-6) with 22 points and 11 rebounds.
Orlando Magic 110, Detroit Pistons 103
Dwight Howard had 22 points with 12 rebounds, and the Magic (5-1) ended a four-game slide against the visiting Pistons.
Charlie Villanueva paced Detroit (2-4) with 28 points.
Indiana Pacers 102, Washington Wizards 86
Danny Granger dropped in 22 points, T.J. Ford added 18 and the host Pacers (2-3) rolled to their second straight victory.
Caron Butler had a game-high 24 points for Washington (2-4) and Brendan Haywood grabbed 19 rebounds.
Charlotte Bobcats 103, Atlanta Hawks 83
Raja Bell scored 24 points with five three-pointers, Gerald Wallace grabbed 18 rebounds, and the host Bobcats (3-2) rolled to their second straight win.
Portland Trail Blazers 96, San Antonio Spurs 84
Brandon Roy scored 24 points, Steve Blake had 15 and the Trail Blazers (3-3) kept the Spurs winless in the road.
Richard Jefferson had 19 points, Argentine ace Manu Ginobili added 17 for San Antonio (2-3) which lost Frenchman Tony Parker to an ankle sprain.
LA Clippers 118, Golden State Warriors 90
Baron Davis scored 16 of his 25 points in the decisive third quarter against his former team, Eric Gordon also had 25 and the Clippers (2-4) ended a seven-game slide at Oakland.
