PHOENIX (Ticker) -- Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion gave the Phoenix Suns their expected production, but an unheralded forward also contributed.
Rookie Zarko Cabarkapa netted a season-high 14 points off the bench to complement strong efforts by Stoudemire and Marion as the Suns snapped a three-game skid with a 95-82 victory over the Chicago Bulls.
Stoudemire, Marion and Cabarkapa all reached double figures by halftime as Phoenix built a 57-47 advantage. Cabarkapa, the second-most prominent rookie from the Yugoslavia's domestic league behind Detroit's Darko Milicic, has outshined his countryman in the early season.
With Chicago's defense focusing on Phoenix's other weapons, Cabarkapa was the beneficiary, nailing a series of open jumpers. The 22-year-old made 7-of-9 shots in only 14 minutes.
"We came out distributing the ball very well," Stoudemire said. "It wasn't a bad lineup with the way Zarko puts the ball on the floor and moves."
Stoudemire recorded his second straight double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds and Marion added 19 and nine. The Suns shot a blistering 57 percent (24-of-42) in the first half and never trailed.
"We were out there making plays, executing and that's just basketball," Suns guard Stephon Marbury said. "I think we really did something."
Cabarkapa, who scored 20 points in his first six games, has seen his playing time increase over the last three games after playing a total of 20 minutes over Phoenix's first seven games. His 6-11 wingspan and outside presence caused plenty of matchup problems against the Bulls.
The Suns also received 12 points from reserve center Jake Voskuhl and the frontcourt production helped offset a rough shooting night for the guards. Marbury and Joe Johnson combined to make 9-of-26 shots for 21 points, but Marbury handed out a season-high 12 assists.
Stoudemire's first six baskets all came inside the lane, including three ferocious dunks. He also came up with four assists after registering just one in the first nine games.
"We were getting up and down and getting fast-break points," Stoudemire said. "We played pretty good."
The Bulls entered with a three-game road winning streak after winning just three games away from the United Center last season. They were done in by a lethargic effort personified by Jalen Rose, who made just three of 16 shot attempts for seven points.
"Phoenix was a lot more aggressive and did a lot better job of executing and it showed," Rose said.
Chicago also was careless with the ball, committing 19 turnovers that led to 22 points for Phoenix. Rose, rookie Kirk Hinrich and Kendall Gill all had four miscues.
