The Phoenix Suns used strong second and third quarters to overwhelm Partizan Belgrade in the Sun’s preseason opener, sending their Euroleague counterparts to a 111-80 defeat.

Partizan Belgrade and the Phoenix Suns are taking part in the 2009 Euroleague American Tour, bring top teams from Europe to play against NBA team in friendlies.

Led by Goran Dragic (16 points), Jason Richardson (15) and Jared Dudley (14), the Suns outscored Partizan by 32 points in the two middle periods even without Sun’s leader and point guard Steve Nash who missed the game due to chest congestion.

(discuss the Phoenix Suns – Partizan Belgrade game)

Partizan Belgrade was plagued by turnovers, coughing up possession 36 times during the game.

Amare Stoudemire added 12 points and Channing Frye and Grant Hill each added 10 points as six Phoenix players reached double-figures.  Louis Amundson, Leandro Barbosa, and rookie Earl Clark each chipped in 8 points.

Jan Veselý, the 19-year old forward, led Partizan with 16 points. Center Aleksandar Maric had 14 points and Aleksandar Rašić had 12 for the team from Serbia.

The team from Serbia lost their second straight game by thirty or more points, after being defeated by the Denver Nuggets 102-70 on Saturday.