In a season of lows, the Suns were about to head underground.

---

Photos from the game | Box score | Twitter updates

---

At home Saturday night, they were on their way to a loss to the Charlotte Bobcats, the NBA’s worst team that came to Phoenix with a 10-game losing streak, their top three scorers out hurt, the NBA’s third-worst offense and the second-worst defense.

Naturally, it would take Steve Nash and Marcin Gortat to save the day, right? Actually, this night saw Michael Redd go from out of the rotation to being the leading scorer and an all-reserve lineup led by Robin Lopez’s play extend the fourth-quarter lead and send the Suns to a 95-89 victory at US Airways Center.

Redd, starting in place of injured guard Jared Dudley (bruised thigh), led the Suns with 17 points, but that all came before the Suns rallied to the lead in the fourth.

Four of the Suns’ 10 3-pointers came consecutively in the second half, putting the Suns back in front for the first time since the second quarter. The final two 3s came from Markieff Morris to tie score at the end of the third quarter and Josh Childress for the Suns’ first second-half lead at 75-72 with 9:25 to play.

“A lot of guys, myself included, were like, ‘There’s no way we can lose this game,’ ” Childress said. “It was a must-win.”

From there, Lopez came out of a funk — which included him being suspended, benched and barely used — to score nine consecutive points for an 84-74 Suns lead with 5:50 remaining. Lopez finished with 13 points and six rebounds in 19 minutes, his third double-digit scoring game of the season.

“I just tried to go out and be aggressive, the hit the boards and play some defense,” Lopez said. “I was just in the right spot at the time right time in some places.”

The Suns’ past two wins have come with rallies from double-digit deficits against the worst team from each conference. The win also snapped Phoenix’s four-game losing streak against Charlotte, which usually gets a big game from Boris Diaw (13 points, three rebounds, three assists, five turnovers) against the Suns.

The entire Suns bench had a big turnaround from the previous night’s loss in Houston, when the Rockets bench was the difference. On Saturday night, the Suns reserves outscored the Bobcats reserves 40-14.

“The energy level was where it should be,” Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. “We did a really good job of picking up the tempo offensively, and I thought we really picked it up defensively.”

Redd missed his first four shots and then made six of his final eight to score 17 in 24 minutes. He sank four of seven 3s.

“To come back, through the tears, through the hurt, through the hours of rehab, training to come back and accomplish this, is maybe the proudest moment of my career,” Redd said.

Gortat’s 12-point, 12-rebound effort gave him 15 consecutive double-digit rebound games, tying Minnesota’s Kevin Love for the longest streak in the NBA season.

The Suns’ typical second-quarter offensive struggles put them in a 48-42 halftime hole, and it worsened to a 54-44 Bobcats lead before Gentry called timeout. The Suns emerged with a 7-0 run, including five by Redd.

“It’s weird how you play a back-to-back (set) and we had better energy tonight than we did last night,” Suns forward Grant Hill said. “Obviously, Houston’s a better team, but I thought we just didn’t come out with the energy in the first half (Friday night). The fourth quarter (Saturday) was just great basketball.”

Suns report

Key player: Suns center Robin Lopez scored all the points in a 9-0 run that gave the Suns an 84-74 lead in the fourth quarter.

Key moment: After a timeout with Charlotte taking a 54-44 lead to start the second half, the Suns got five defensive stops in a row to get back in the game.

Key number: 10. Suns’ 3-pointers, their second-most this season.

View from press row

It made a lot of sense to give Michael Redd the start at shooting guard Saturday night with Jared Dudley out. Alvin Gentry has wanted to give Redd better time. Redd has been a career starter. It kept rotations intact. The Suns already experimented with Ronnie Price there. Redd finished the Dallas and Houston blowouts well. And despite Saturday’s struggles against Charlotte, that is the opponent to try something new against.

BOSTON – The Suns just needed to visit some NBA arenas where opponents are allowed to win or the tenants are playing bad basketball.

---

Game photos | Box score | Twitter updates

---

The Suns’ five-game losing streak has been followed by a two-game road win streak after the Suns grinded out a win Friday night that would be considered ugly if it was not so rare.

The Suns downed Boston 79-71 at TD Garden, marking the first time they have won a game with fewer than 80 points since November 2002 (75-72 at Denver).

The Celtics (5-9) are struggling like New York, Wednesday’s victim, and were without point guard Rajon Rondo because of a wrist injury.

The Suns (6-9) started this daunting five-game trip with losses at San Antonio and Chicago, which entered Friday night undefeated at home, but held New York to 37.2 percent shooting Wednesday and allowed 40.5 percent shooting to Boston. The Suns needed every Celtics miss, as they committed a season-high 23 turnovers.

“Our defense, I know it almost makes you guys pass out when I say Phoenix Suns and defense, but we have gotten a lot better defensively, and the reason we can stay in games now is because of our defense,” Suns coach Alvin Gentry said.

Boston’s “Big 3″ of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen made 14 of 35 shots, with Allen, the leading scorer, taking only eight shots against a defense that began with Ronnie Price guarding him.

The Suns jumped ahead early with NBA field-goal percentage leader Marcin Gortat scoring their final 14 points of the first quarter, a total that matched Allen’s team-high 14 for the game. Suns point guard Steve Nash spoon-fed center Gortat baskets when Boston’s attention was on Nash coming off screens. Still, Gortat also made tough shots, including two hooks and a spin move that would have made his summer tutor, Hakeem Olajuwon, proud.

“I was aggressive,” Gortat said. “Those points aren’t only because of me. My teammates had great position. They spread the floor for me. Steve hit me on the rolls. At the end of the game, maybe I had one or two putbacks. That’s the only thing I did by myself. They helped me to score. Next time, somebody else will score.”

Gortat finished with 24 points, one shy of his career high, on 10-of-18 shooting and added 12 rebounds.

Gortat has recorded seven consecutive double-doubles and posted three 20-point, 10-rebound games in the past five contests.

Jared Dudley (12 points) and Nash (11) were the only other Suns in double figures, and both hit clutch perimeter shots down the stretch. Nash added nine assists.

“He (Nash) is the motor that drives the car,” Gentry said. “He’s everything for us.”

The Suns’ second unit made 12 of 26 shots, helping the Suns stretch the lead to double figures in the second quarter.

The Suns lost their lead in the third quarter when they managed only four points for the first 8½ minutes. Boston had momentum, but the Suns showed resolve, going on a 12-0 run that bridged the end of the third quarter and the start of the fourth.

The run included blocked shots from Gortat and Nash and steals by Grant Hill, Sebastian Telfair (twice) and Robin Lopez.

Report

Key player

Suns center Marcin Gortat had 24 points and 12 rebounds, his seventh consecutive double-double.

Key moment

After surrendering the lead in the third quarter, the Suns went on a 14-0 run over six minutes and included two blocks and four steals.

Key number

+14: The Suns’ rebound differential Friday night after entering the game with a league-worst minus-4.9 differential seventh consecutive double-double included average.

View from press row

This probably was why Alvin Gentry was hesitant to throw rookie Markieff Morris into the starting lineup. Morris has been the most impressive rookie big man in the NBA this season but had done it against a lot of second-stringers. His propensity for bad passes continued Friday night. He also did not make a shot, but he gets a pass after coming off a stomach virus and being a rookie. He has proven to be a smart player and will figure things out.

Plan A was for Aaron Brooks to be Steve Nash’s backup. Sebastian Telfair became Plan B. Plan C would be Zabian Dowdell if Telfair does not work out.

---

Photos from the game | Box

---

Who knew the Suns would need a Plan D?

With Brooks in China, Dowdell waived because of an injury and Telfair being outplayed, Ronnie Price made his Suns debut Monday as the backup point guard before he even hit his two-week anniversary with the team.

“Every day is getting better,” Price said. “Learning where guys are going to be, where they like to take their shots. Things that point guards need to know.”

Suns coach Alvin Gentry has said he anticipates needing both point guards, especially with a condensed 66-game schedule and a 37-year-old Nash. But after going with Telfair first off the bench in the preseason opener, Gentry turned to Price and stuck with him Monday night.

Suns players liked playing with Price more, and Price brought more defensive intensity that the staff wants for occasional full-court pressure.

Offensively, Price is making the 180-degree turn from the regimented Utah system to a more-open Suns offense.

“It’s just a comfort level of knowing when you do see an open look that it’s expected to be taken,” Price said. “In this offense, your open looks can come early. They can come late. They can come first pass, second pass. It’s something I’m getting adjusted to, but it’s an easy adjustment.”

With Price in, the Suns turn more into a play-calling team by design. He said he will not try to emulate how Nash plays but is trying to study how he gets into the lane and uses passing angles. But as Price’s second-quarter air ball 3-point attempt showed, his defense is his calling card.

“I’m going to try to give whatever effort and whatever I have in my tank,” Price said. “That’s a must. I think we do have a team that can defend. We have a bunch of athleticism, and we have some big guys that can move. A lot of teams can’t say that.”

No sellout

Despite giveaway promotions, the Suns did not sell out their home opener Monday night for the first time since 2005. That is due in large part to the team coming off a losing season and the lackluster opponent, New Orleans. However, the previous home opener to not sell out came after a conference finals season and was against Dallas.

The Suns play at home again Thursday against Philadelphia.

Free throws

The Suns began the season with the same starting lineup that finished last season for the first time since 1990. Then, it was Kevin Johnson,Jeff Hornacek,Kurt Rambis,Tom Chambers and Mark West.

Gentry, on the Suns’ need to be a better post-defense team: “We can’t become a team that’s just going to run around and trap and be in rotations, because that can get you in troubles. We’ve got to do things digging back.”

Suns guards Jared Dudley and Shannon Brown are two of the NBA’s seven players who did not miss a game the past two seasons.

Kip Helt, the Suns’ vice president of game entertainment, is the new public-address announcer. He also has been the Mercury’s public address announcer.

Suns coach Alvin Gentry is set on having his two-time Most Valuable Player, face of the franchise and consummate playmaker start at point guard.

---

Phoenix Suns media day | Rest of preseason

---

Beyond Steve Nash at the close of starting lineup introductions, the rest of the Suns starters have yet to be named with a week remaining until opening night.

Grant Hill would remain the starting small forward but he has missed practice time with a sore right knee and would be replaced by Josh Childress if he is not ready. The off-guard spot is a battle between Jared Dudley and Shannon Brown, although Dudley has been the star of training camp.

The serious quandary is at the frontcourt spots where Marcin Gortat has put in an average camp, Robin Lopez has been much-improved, Channing Frye is trying to find his shooting range amid his new tools and rookie Markieff Morris has been everything the Suns wanted when they drafted him in June.

“It’s been very competitive at all of our positions,” Gentry said. “I would say the Nash kid has a lock. But most of the other positions, there’s a good battle going on.”

Gortat was a consistent force last season but he has to regain that form soon. There is little concern that he will, but the staff is more concerned with what combinations work best and how to fit in Morris, whose rebounding, muscle and midrange shooting have been an ideal fit.

“What I want to do is what is best for the team,” Gentry said. “I know guys like to start and I know that’s important to them. But at the end of the day, we have to look at what’s going to be best for our team from a rotation standpoint.”

Gentry has been chiding Frye about how his shots have been consistently on line but short. It is not something that will change Frye’s court minutes, especially after he went through the same thing last training camp. He also fits with either center, but could play center alongside Morris. This year, Frye does not feel the pressure of a new contract that weighed on him early last season when he was trying to find his shooting groove.

“I know what my role is,” Frye said. “This year, I know how I can help the team and what I need to improve on. I’ve been working on stuff all summer and now it’s knowing when to use it in the system.”

Frye likely just needs to shoot his way into better shape to be the big man who spread defenses so well last season, when he averaged career highs in points (12.7) and rebounds (6.7). He also has tried to incorporate more dribble drives and off-ball cuts with teams trying to chase him off the 3-point line, where he has made 343 shots over the past two seasons.

The proof of his drive to draw more shooting fouls is on his arms, which have scratches that look like werewolves attacked him.

Frye became a better defender and rebounder last season, too, and continues to make that push. He said he does not need to dwell on whether his shot will return to being “juicy,” as he has been prone to call it when he is hot.

“As soon as I get my legs,” Frye said. “It’s always juicy. Trust me. I’m always ready to rain. I am not shy about that. Just as soon as I get my balance right and my timing right, I’ll be good to go. I know what it is. It’s just me correcting it at this point.”

Read More: Marcin Gortat (C – PHO), Phoenix Suns

Phoenix Suns center Marcin Gortat had an interesting offseason. He originally tried to play for his national team in the 2011 Eurobasket Tournament but was unable to compete for Poland due to insurance issues. He later came close to signing with a team in Turkey just weeks before the NBA lockout ended. But before the lockout even began, the Phoenix Suns sent Marcin to spend some quality time with Hakeem Olajuwon to work on his low post game.

Gortat said that Hakeem had 100′s of moves and that he managed to pick up a “couple of them”. He hopes to use some of that improve skill this season, ”We’re going to have 66 games in the season so hopefully I’m going to be able to show what I can do.”

The focus for Marcin, however, remains his defense and rebounding. Physically, he wants to get stronger in his lower back and continue to rely on what’s made him successful so far — heart and determination.

When Gortat arrived in Phoenix he fell into the rotation behind Robin Lopez but by the end of the year, he had secured both the starting job and the majority of the minutes. Lopez, who’s been widely praised for his offseason improvement, sounds like he’s going to battle Gortat for floor time.

“He’s definitely better right now,” Gortat said of his fellow center. “Physically, he get stronger. He got more confidence. He kind of hungry of playing. He wants to have the ball in his hands. It’s good. It’s going to help us. We’re going to compete for the job and I’m looking forward (to it).”

Gortat prides himself on defense and was outspoken at times last season when the Suns weren’t getting it done on that end of the floor. We’ve heard a lot this training camp about the renewed commitment to get stops but we’ve also heard coach Alvin Gentry temper expectations, especially for early in the season.

One reason to be patient is the changes the team is making with their defensive scheme with the arrival of new “defensive coordinator”, Elston Turner. 

From the defensive stand point, Gortat said this feels like his third NBA team due to the changes, ”Obviously, Orlando first. Last year (with the Suns) second. And this year, everything is totally different. We’ll see how it works during this season. I believe those changes are good for us. There’s a lot of new rotations. I’m kind of familiar with everything we do because we had similar in Orlando, but end of the day, the results will show if we are better or not.”

The Arizona Cardinals went through a very similar process this year. They hired hired a new defensive coordinator (Ray Horton) and also lost a lot of offseason prep time due to a lockout. The Cardinals defense struggled early in the season but by Week 9 of the NFL season, Arizona emerged as one of the better defenses in the league. Can the Suns do the same?

For all the latest AZ sports news, follow us on Twitter @SBNArizona and “Like” us on Facebook. 

Here’s some video from media day, including Wil from Bright Side of the Sun who looks a bit too much like Marcin Gortat: