Phoenix 113, L.A. Clippers 94

PHOENIX, Nov. 23 (AP) -- Amare Stoudemire scored 13 of his season-high 29 points in the decisive third quarter, and the Phoenix Suns matched the best start to a season in franchise history by beating the Los Angeles Clippers 113-94 on Friday night.

Shawn Marion added 21 points, 17 rebounds and five steals as the Suns won their eighth in a row. Their 11-2 start matches the franchise record set in 1980-81 and equaled in 2004-05. They can break the record with a victory at Golden State on Monday.

Steve Nash added 20 points and 10 assists, and Grant Hill scored 19 points for the Suns.

Phoenix's ultra up-tempo offense wasn't nearly as jaw-dropping as it was against Sacramento on Tuesday night, when the Suns scored 47 in first quarter and 80 in the first half. But it was good enough to beat the depleted Clippers.

Sam Cassell led Los Angeles with 26 points but stayed on the bench in the fourth quarter. Chris Kaman had 17 points and 14 rebounds, and Ruben Patterson had 18 points and 11 boards for Los Angeles.

Down 52-51 at the half, the Suns took the lead for good with a 9-0 run early in the third quarter. Stoudemire scored eight in the surge, starting it with a three-point play and ending it with an inside basket that gave Phoenix a 63-54 lead with 9:15 left in the quarter.

Another three-point play by Stoudemire put Phoenix ahead 84-69 with 1:24 to go in the third, and the Suns led 86-74 entering the fourth.

Bell started the final period with a 20-footer, Marion stole the ball from Dan Dickau and dunked, then Stoudemire scored inside and Phoenix led 92-74. The Clippers cut it to 102-94 when Kaman scored inside with 2 1/2 minutes left.

Bell responded with a 3-pointer, and the Suns scored the last 11 points of the game.

The 38-year-old Cassell scored 18 in the first half on 6-of-10 shooting, including 2-of-2 3-pointers.

The Clippers, playing without injured Elton Brand, Corey Maggette and Shaun Livingston, led 25-16 with 3 1/2 minutes left in the first quarter. The Suns caught up in the second, and led 49-46, but Los Angeles outscored Phoenix 6-2 the rest of the quarter to lead 52-51 at the break.

Notes: The Clippers are 2-5 since a 4-0 start. ... Bell was back in the Phoenix starting lineup after missing two games with an aching back. He sat out two of three games before that with a sprained right ankle. ...The Suns' Leandro Barbosa scored just six points on 2-for-10 shooting. He was 0-for-5 from 3-point range.