Los Angeles - New interim head coach Alvin Gentry brought out the old playbook, and the up-tempo Phoenix Suns were on the run, having fun again.

"Brazilian Blur" Leandro Barbosa scored 24 points, Amare Stoudemire added 23 to lead a balanced attack and the Suns lit up the defenseless Los Angeles Clippers
140-100 on Tuesday night.

"This is what we like to do, this was fun, everybody had a lot of energy," said Barbosa, who was filling in for Jason Richardson, serving a one-game suspension for reckless driving. "Tonight was what we used to do last year and we're back doing it."

The Suns made Gentry a winner, one day after being promoted when Terry Porter was fired, despite guiding the club to a 28-23 record.

"I like our effort, everybody did a good job and we were good defensively," Gentry said. "But it's just one game. We have a lot to work to do, and we're not ready to crown ourselves NBA champs yet."

Grant Hill netted 20 points, Shaquille O'Neal added 15 for Phoenix (29-23) which shot a sizzling 62 per cent from the field and dominated the boards 58-21 in the laugher.

Playing with renewed energy and passion, the Suns wasted little time taking control of the woeful Clippers with their high octane offence. They raced to a 41-26 after the opening quarter, and opened up an 81-49 halftime cushion, that swelled to 118-72 after three en route to the lopsided victory.

Eric Gordon had 24 points for the Clippers (13-41) who played without starting centre Marcus Camby (ear infection) and lost Zach Randolph to an automatic ejection in the first quarter for elbowing and then punching Phoenix's Louis Amundson after the two got tangled up under the basket.

The Clippers get another shot at the Suns Wednesday night, when they host the back end of the home-and-home series.

Elsewhere:

Orlando Magic 107, Charlotte Bobcats 102 (OT) Dwight Howard scored four of his career-high 45 points in overtime, grabbed 19 rebounds and blocked eight shots, powering the Magic over the visiting Bobcats.

Raymond Felton led Charlotte (21-32) with 22 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.

LA Lakers 96, Atlanta Hawks 83 Lamar Odom had 15 points and 20 rebounds, Spaniard Pau Gasol posted his third career triple double with 12 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists as the Lakers (43-10) offset a season-low 10 points by Kobe Bryant to clip the visiting Hawks.

New York Knicks 112, San Antonio Spurs 107 (OT) Slam Dunk Champion Nate Robinson poured in 18 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Knicks snapped a six-game slide.

Tim Duncan collected 26 points with 15 rebounds for visiting San Antonio (35-17) which missed Argentine ace Manu Ginobili, out with an ankle injury.

Houston Rockets 114, New Jersey Nets 88 Chinese superstar Yao Ming collected 20 points with 12 rebounds and the Rockets routed the visiting Nets.

Shane Battier and Von Wafer scored 19 points apiece for Houston (33-21) which without Tracy McGrady (sore right knee) drilled a season-high 15 three-pointers while controlling the boards, 56-30.

New Jersey's (24-30) Vince Carter shook off trade rumours with 30 points.

New Orleans Hornets 100, Oklahoma City Thunder 98 Chris Paul hit a spinning layup in the lane with 2.7 seconds left, and the visiting Hornets overcame Kevin Durant's career-high 47 points to quiet the Thunder.

David West topped New Orleans (31-20) with 37 points and 13 rebounds, while Paul finished with 21 points and eight assists.

Hours earlier, the Hornets sent starting center Tyson Chandler to the Thunder in exchange for veteran forwards Joe Smith, Chris Wilcox, and second-round selection DeVon Hardin.

Milwaukee Bucks 92, Detroit Pistons 86 Richard Jefferson scored 29 points, Ramon Sessions had 17 and the visiting Bucks beat the slumping Pistons for their third straight victory.

Antonio McDyess had 24 points with 14 rebounds for Detroit (27-25) losers for the seventh time in the last eight games.

Indiana Pacers 100, Philadelphia 76ers 91 Danny Granger had 20 points with 10 rebounds, Troy Murphy scored 17 and the host Pacers held off a late charge to snap the Sixers' four-game winning streak.

Andre Iguodala had 20 points and nine assists for Philadelphia (27-25) which sliced a 17-point deficit to 89-83 before fading.

Utah Jazz 117, Memphis Grizzlies 99 Russian Andrei Kililenko returned from ankle surgery with 14 points, and keyed a game-breaking 20-4 fourth quarter run, sparking the host Jazz to its fifth win in the last six games

CJ, Miles led Utah (31-23) with 24 points while Deron Williams finished with 20 and 15 assists.

Washington Wizards 111, Minnesota 103 Antawn Jamison scored 29 points, Mike James added 15, including a key three-pointer with 28 seconds remaining, and the host Wizards handed the Timberwolves their fifth straight loss.

Randy Foye led Minnesota (17-35) with 23 points. (dpa)