Reverting back to its old offensive form, Phoenix (29-23) avoided a third straight loss by scoring a season high for points in a 140-100 win over the lowly Clippers on Tuesday night.

The result came one day after Gentry replaced Terry Porter as coach. Porter, who tried to emphasize defense and a halfcourt game, didn't make it through his first season with the Suns, who are ninth in the Western Conference.

"It felt totally different," Suns forward Amare Stoudemire said. "We felt relaxed, we felt poised and we just ran and played free."

With Gentry, the team's longtime assistant under former coach Mike D'Antoni, Phoenix has a chance to make a push for the postseason while playing a comfortable style it thrived with under its old boss.

"I like our effort and I like what we did," Gentry said. "We're not ready to crown ourselves NBA champs yet, OK?"

Leandro Barbosa had 24 points while Stoudemire added 23 for the Suns, who shot 75.6 percent in the first half to build an 81-49 lead at the break. Phoenix, which scored 40 points in a quarter twice under Porter, did it in each of the first two periods against Los Angeles (13-41), which has lost two of three.

Stoudemire continues to play well amid consistent trade rumors as Thursday's deadline approaches. The All-Star, who has 50 points in his last two games, averages a team-leading 21.0 overall and 26.9 in his last seven contests against the Clippers.

The Suns are expected to have Jason Richardson back after he served a one-game suspension as the result of his arrest on allegations he was driving 55 mph above the limit with his unrestrained 3-year-old son in the car. Richardson is averaging 15.6 points in 28 games since being traded to Phoenix from Charlotte in December.

Looking to sweep the season series from Los Angeles for the first time since 2004-05, Phoenix could catch a break while trying for a second straight road win over the Clippers.

Los Angeles star Zach Randolph could be suspended for this contest. He was ejected in the first quarter Tuesday for punching Phoenix's Louis Amundson after the two were tangled up going for a rebound. Without the 6-foot-9 Randolph, the Clippers were outscored 90-32 in the paint.

"He hopped up and got in my face and almost kissed me in my mouth," said Randolph, who was averaging 25.5 points and 11 rebounds in his previous four games. "I just pushed him out of my face. If I would have hit him, he wouldn't have got up off the ground."

The 90 paint points allowed are the most by any NBA team since the start of the 1993-94 season.

Clippers rookie guard Eric Gordon had 24 points Tuesday to give him 54 in his last two games. He is averaging 19.7 against the Suns.