CBSSports.com wire reports
Jan. 2, 2012

PHOENIX — Steve Nash is slowly playing his way into shape.

Nash scored 13 of his game-high 21 points in the fourth quarter and rookie Markieff Morris added 16 points, helping the Suns beat the Golden State Warriors 102-91 on Monday.

“It’s going to be tough,” Nash said. “I haven’t played basketball in a long, long time and then to have only two weeks of camp. Today would normally have preseason game number seven. It’s going to take some time.”

Jared Dudley had 15 points, and Channing Frye and Shannon Brown added 10 each for the Suns, who have won two of three overall and six straight against the Warriors. Phoenix has not lost to Golden State at home since March 8, 2005, a 13-game stretch.

“We just kind of grinded it out,” Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. “We’re not shooting the ball the way we’re capable of shooting it but we shot a lot better today.”

Monta Ellis had 18 points, Dominic McGuire scored 14 and Brandon Rush finished with 13 points for the Warriors, who lost their first road game after opening the season with four in a row at home.

“You shoot 50 percent on the road, you should come out ahead with a win,” said Warriors coach Mark Jackson. “You put teams on the foul line, turn the basketball over and give up 16 offensive rebounds, it’s a recipe for disaster.

“I understand this is a process but this is a 66-game season and we need to speed up the process,” Jackson said. “I will find guys that are playing well, competing and executing the game plan and if that means playing five guys 48 minutes, I will.”

Golden State was without second-leading scorer and top rebounder David Lee, who was a late scratch after being hospitalized earlier Monday with an undetermined illness. Lee was receiving intravenous fluids at the hospital as doctors worked to determine if he had food poisoning, the flu or another virus.

The Warriors started the second half on an 8-0 run to take a 55-51 lead with 9:10 left in the third quarter, aided by the Suns’ 0-for-5 shooting and two turnovers.

But then the Suns started to click, connecting on eight of their next 12 field-goal attempts and opening a 70-61 lead with 3:21 left in the quarter.

Morris helped serve as the catalyst, scoring on a layup and hitting a 3-pointer on consecutive possessions during Phoenix’s run.

“I’m learning but I’m picking it up fast,” Morris said. “I’m trying not to speed through things, to take my time, don’t get too high or too low, just keep it leveled out.”

Phoenix led 72-69 at the end of the third then scored the first nine points of the fourth, including a basket and two free throws by Hakim Warrick, to take an 81-69 lead with 8:25 to play.

The Warriors closed to 83-80 on Brandon Rush’s 3-pointer with 5:24 to go. But Nash had a pair of 3-pointers, and Dudley and Frye each added another to give the Suns a 94-83 lead with 2:23 left.

“Channing hit a big three and they had two straight possessions where they got buckets and they increased the lead and we had to start pressing from them on,” said Stephen Curry, who scored 10 points while being limited to 23 minutes by game-long foul trouble. “We just needed those stops.”

After making only 1 of 10 3-pointers in the first half, the Suns connected on 7 of 13 in the second half.

Morris had 11 points and all eight Suns who played scored for Phoenix in the first half en route to a 51-47 halftime lead.

Notes

• After the game, Phoenix waived C Garret Siler. Siler, a second-year player out of Augusta State, had not played in any of the Suns’ first five games.
• Morris is the Suns’ first rookie with at least two double-digit scoring games in his first five games since Amar’e Stoudemire in 2002.
• Phoenix finished the first quarter with more successful free throws (nine) than field goals (eight).
• G Michael Rudd, signed by the Suns on Thursday, was inactive for the second consecutive game.

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THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

PHOENIX — Victoria’s Steve Nash is slowly playing his way into shape.

scored 13 of his game-high 21 points in the fourth quarter and rookie Markieff Morris added 16 points, helping the Suns beat the Golden State Warriors 102-91 on Monday.

“It’s going to be tough,” said Nash. “I haven’t played basketball in a long, long time and then to have only two weeks of camp. Today would normally have pre-season game No. 7. It’s going to take some time.”

Jared Dudley had 15 points, and Channing Frye and Shannon Brown added 10 each for the Suns, who have won two of three overall and six straight against the Warriors. Phoenix has not lost to Golden State at home since March 8, 2005, a 13-game stretch.

“We just kind of grinded it out,” Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. “We’re not shooting the ball the way we’re capable of shooting it but we shot a lot better today.”

Monta Ellis had 18 points, Dominic McGuire scored 14 and Brandon Rush finished with 13 points for the Warriors, who lost their first road game after opening the season with four in a row at home.

“You shoot 50 per cent on the road, you should come out ahead with a win,” said Warriors coach Mark Jackson. “You put teams on the foul line, turn the basketball over and give up 16 offensive rebounds, it’s a recipe for disaster.

“I understand this is a process but this is a 66-game season and we need to speed up the process,” Jackson said. “I will find guys that are playing well, competing and executing the game plan and if that means playing five guys 48 minutes, I will.”

Golden State was without second-leading scorer and top rebounder David Lee, who was a late scratch after being hospitalized earlier Monday with an undetermined illness. Lee was receiving intravenous fluids at the hospital as doctors worked to determine if he had food poisoning, the flu or another virus.

The Warriors started the second half on an 8-0 run to take a 55-51 lead with 9:10 left in the third quarter, aided by the Suns’ 0-for-5 shooting and two turnovers.

But then the Suns started to click, connecting on eight of their next 12 field-goal attempts and opening a 70-61 lead with 3:21 left in the quarter.

Morris helped serve as the catalyst, scoring on a layup and hitting a 3-pointer on consecutive possessions during Phoenix’s run.

“I’m learning but I’m picking it up fast,” Morris said. “I’m trying not to speed through things, to take my time, don’t get too high or too low, just keep it levelled out.”

Phoenix led 72-69 at the end of the third then scored the first nine points of the fourth, including a basket and two free throws by Hakim Warrick, to take an 81-69 lead with 8:25 to play.

The Warriors closed to 83-80 on Brandon Rush’s 3-pointer with 5:24 to go. But Nash had a pair of 3-pointers, and Dudley and Frye each added another to give the Suns a 94-83 lead with 2:23 left.

“Channing hit a big three and they had two straight possessions where they got buckets and they increased the lead and we had to start pressing from them on,” said Stephen Curry, who scored 10 points while being limited to 23 minutes by game-long foul trouble. “We just needed those stops.”

After making only 1 of 10 3-pointers in the first half, the Suns connected on 7 of 13 in the second half.

Morris had 11 points and all eight Suns who played scored for Phoenix in the first half en route to a 51-47 halftime lead.

NOTES: After the game, Phoenix waived C Garret Siler. Siler, a second-year player out of Augusta State, had not played in any of the Suns’ first five games. . Morris is the Suns’ first rookie with at least two double-digit scoring games in his first five games since Amar’e Stoudemire in 2002. … Phoenix finished the first quarter with more successful free throws (nine) than field goals (eight). . G Michael Rudd, signed by the Suns on Thursday, was inactive for the second consecutive game.

That’s all for today.

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Robert Sarver read through the NBA schedule last night when it was released, and he’s not happy that many of the Eastern Conference’s top teams won’t be making their way to Phoenix, since that represents a big financial loss at the ticket counter. From the Arizona Republic: “Phoenix is the only team that will not have a home game this season against Boston, Chicago, Miami, New York or Orlando. ‘I was disappointed for our fans,’ Suns Managing Partner Robert Sarver said. ‘When the preliminary schedule came out, I asked the league to reconsider and they didn’t. You’ve got to factor in all the arenas and timelines, and they weren’t able to move dates around.’ Although some West teams are visiting only once this season, Phoenix will get two home games against the Lakers, Mavericks, Clippers and Spurs, Sarver noted. Eleven of the other 14 West teams play at least three of those five top East teams at home. Golden State and Oklahoma City host all five attendance boosters. Houston did not fare much better than Phoenix, getting New York at home but not Boston, Chicago, Miami or Orlando. ‘For the most part, the schedule is computer-generated by a consulting firm that does schedules for the NHL and NBA,’ Sarver said. ‘Unfortunately for us, given the short schedule, we’re not going to see some of the elite teams in the East.’ The Suns will be on ESPN or ESPN2 nine times this season and twice on TNT (home vs. Dallas and the Clippers).”

That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow.

Credit: AP

Phoenix Suns’ Grant Hill, left, drives the ball past Golden State Warriors’ Monta Ellis during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Feb. 7, 2011, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

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Credit: AP

Phoenix Suns’ Grant Hill, left, drives the ball past Golden State Warriors’ Monta Ellis during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Feb. 7, 2011, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

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By Seth Pollack – Regional Sports Editor

Read More: Phoenix Suns

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Mar 30, 2011 - Sorry, I am running out of things to say about this team and this season. The Phoenix Suns, who lost for the third time last night to 21-win Sacramento Kings, are back at it tonight against the Oklahoma City Thunder. It will be our first look at the Thunder with Kendrick Perkins, which should be far more interesting than anything the Suns could possibly do barring a starting lineup that included Garret Siler and Zabian Dowdell.

For the record, the Suns have given no indication of changing up their rotations significantly until they are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. The Suns are 4 1/2 games behind eighth-seeded Memphis and two 1/2 games back from ninth-seeded Houston. With nine games left on the schedule, playoff elimination can’t be to far away.

The Thunder have won 11 of their last 12 games including an overtime win in Golden State last night. They’ve beaten the Suns three of their last four meetings. Tonight features two teams headed in opposite directions as the Thunder head into the playoffs with hopes of advancing at least a few rounds deep while the Suns are brushing up on the Draft Lottery rules.

The game tips at 7:00 p.m. local time on Fox Sports AZ and will be broadcast on Sports 620 radio. Fans can follow along during the game with other Suns fans at the live game thread at Bright Side of the Sun.

There is the quick update of the day.

Phoenix Suns update:

Thunder (49-24) at Suns (36-37)

 

C: Kendrick Perkins … Marcin Gortat

PF: Serge Ibaka … Channing Frye

SF: Kevin Durant … Grant Hill

SG: Thabo Sefolosha … Jared Dudley

PG: Russell Westbrook … Steve Nash

 

Key Thunder subs: James Harden, Nazr Mohammed, Daequan Cook, Eric Maynor.

 

Today’s Orange Slices . . .

 

* If it wasn’t for the pall of depressed indifference from Planet Orange over the remainder of the  Suns setting season, tonight might be something to get excited about watching.

 

The Suns and Thunder have played three times this season with each game decided by four points or fewer.

 

The Suns got a short-handed victory at OKC the day after the Orlando trade but lost fourth-quarter leads in the past two, including the March 6 overtime loss when Channing Frye suffered a dislocated shoulder and Vince Carter went from making a game-tying 3-pointer in regulation to missing two of three free throws late in overtime to leave the Suns trailing by one. On that night, the Suns were poised to move into eighth in the West until they lost their lead and Memphis rallied from a 17-point halftime deficit to beat Dallas.

 

The Suns are carrying a losing record into a game for the first time since Feb. 10. Losing three in a row and eight of their past 11 games has put them there.

 

“Right now, the way we are playing, we don’t deserve to be in the playoffs,” Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. “Memphis is playing great. Houston is playing great. New Orleans is playing great. All the teams we are chasing are playing really good. And we are not. We are still alive in the playoff race but we are basically on life support.”

 

* Oklahoma City beat Golden State on Tuesday night with a 115-114 overtime victory. The Thunder was extended to an extra period after Kevin Durant missed a shot to win in regulation but he went on to score eight of his 39 points in the overtime.

 

Russell Westbrook made one of two free throws to break a tie and Golden State’s Monta Ellis missed a chance to win at the buzzer. The Thunder’s flight still likely got into Phoenix long before the Suns, whose game started two hours later in Sacramento.

 

The Thunder had its own collapse Tuesday night but survived it. OKC led by six with 13.5 seconds in regulation before Reggie Williams made a 3-pointer and Ellis stole an inbound pass from Daequan Cook to Durant and hit a tying 3 with 6.9 seconds to go.

 

Oklahoma City has won 10 of its past 11 games.

 

* If it’s not bad enough that three of the Kings’ 21 wins are against the Suns, they only have two fourth-quarter rallies from double-digit deficits for wins and both of them were against the Suns after doing it again Tuesday night.

 

* Dudley tied a career high with five steals Tuesday night. He also nudged his scoring average to 10.0 for the first time with 21 points, his eighth 20-point game of the season after having one previous 20-point game in his career. And the Dudley dunk-o-meter is now at eight, giving him nine games to get two more for his preseason goal of 10.

 

* Gortat has scored in double figures in 19 consecutive games, matching Nash’s streak earlier this season as the longest by a Sun this season.

 

* Nash didn’t get to the free throw line Tuesday night so he still needs to make six consecutive free throws to reclaim the career free throw percentage record from Mark Price.

 

* Nash’s 14 assist game Tuesday night maintained his lead on Boston’s Rajon Rondo for the assist title. Nash is at 11.4 and Rondo is at 11.3. Rondo next plays Thursday night at San Antonio.

 

* It’s another All-Defensive Team campaign night for Hill, who will draw most of the defensive work on Durant. Durant went 8 for 19 against the Suns in the last meeting and is 19 for 49 from the field in three games against the Suns, who also have used Dudley against him.

 

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Phoenix Suns guard Aaron Brooks has been suspended for one game for throwing a ball at an official.

The NBA announced Brooks’ suspension Sunday about an hour before Phoenix’s road game against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Brooks struck an official in the leg with the ball midway through the fourth quarter of the Suns’ 108-97 victory over Golden State on Friday night.

Brooks is averaging 8.3 points and 4.1 assists in his last 10 games with the Suns, who acquired him at the trade deadline from Houston in a deal for Goran Dragic and a protected first-round draft pick.

Brooks was voted the NBA’s most improved player last season.

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LOS ANGELES — Phoenix Suns guard Aaron Brooks has been suspended for one game for throwing a ball at an official.

The NBA announced Brooks’ suspension Sunday about an hour before Phoenix’s road game against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Brooks struck an official in the leg with the ball midway through the fourth quarter of the Suns’ 108-97 victory over Golden State on Friday night.

Brooks is averaging 8.3 points and 4.1 assists in his last 10 games with the Suns, who acquired him at the trade deadline from Houston in a deal for Goran Dragic and a protected first-round draft pick.

Brooks was voted the NBA’s most improved player last season.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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(Sports Network) – The Phoenix Suns will begin a tour through Los Angeles this afternoon, starting with a showdown against the Clippers at Staples Center.

The Suns will also take on the two-time defending champion Lakers and are 15-18 away from the desert. They have dropped three in a row as the guest, but ended a four-game losing streak with Friday’s 108-97 victory versus the Golden State Warriors at US Airways Center.

Marcin Gortat had 18 points and Steve Nash finished with 17 points and 10 assists for Phoenix, which is 2 1/2 games off the eighth and final postseason spot in the Western Conference. Grant Hill and Channing Frye scored 17 points apiece in a winning effort. Frye returned from a five-game absence because of a dislocated shoulder.

“Finally, we started to play better defense and were more aggressive offensively,” Gortat said. “Still, we have to learn how to close games. Golden State is a really dangerous team. They know how to come back. I’m just glad we won this game.”

The Clippers will resume a four-game homestand today and ended a two-game slide with Saturday’s 100-92 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Blake Griffin had a busy night with 30 points, eight rebounds and eight assists while Eric Gordon returned to the lineup after missing the previous six games with a right wrist injury, scoring 29 points.

“Everybody was playing as a team today,” Griffin said. “When Eric Gordon plays he really opens up the court. This was definitely a game we wanted to get.”

Craig Smith added 12 points in a reserve role and Mo Williams contributed 11 points in a winning effort. The Clippers will also host Washington on the residency and are 19-16 at home this season.

LA has won six of its last nine contests overall.

The Suns and Clippers have split a pair of meetings this season, with each team winning as the host. Phoenix has won 12 of the last 14 matchups between the teams and is 13-5 in the past 18 encounters as the guest.

The Sports Network

That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow.

by Paul Coro – Mar. 18, 2011 09:24 PM
The Arizona Republic

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Read More: Steve Nash (G – PHO), Andris Biedrins (C – GSW), Lou Amundson (C – GSW), Ekpe Udoh (C – GSW), Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns

Currently at 30-38 on the season and all but eliminated for the playoffs the Golden State Warriors will be looking to finish their year on a high note, starting with a four game road trip and the Phoenix Suns tonight at the U.S. Airways Center. Tipoff is set for 6:30 and can be seen on CSN Bay Area or heard on KNBR 680.

The Warriors will be without their big man Andris Biedrins after suffering an high ankle sprain against the Mavericks on Wednesday and will not travel with the team at all on their road trip, meaning a lot more time for Lou Amundson and Ekpe Udoh. The Suns have a bit of an injury problem themselves, as Steve Nash suffered a pelvic injury recently that kept him out of two games. He will be in the lineup tonight, though it is uncertain how effective he will be. The Warriors are in need of all the help they can get, especially when a fully healthy Nash sliced up the Warriors in February by a score of 112-88, but now with the Suns within reach of a playoff spot and the W’s dreams of one not completely dead yet, it should be a tightly knit matchup from start to finish.

The Warriors will be trying to stop the Suns from getting their 12th consecutive win on their home floor, but hopefully they’re up to the task. Both these teams average over 100 points a game, so it should be a shootout tonight in the valley of the sun.

Running low on time today, i’ll be back tomorrow hopefully with some more news.

by Jim Gintonio – Mar. 17, 2011 10:00 PM
The Arizona Republic

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Steve Nash had 18 points and 11 assists to lead the Phoenix Suns to an easy 112-88 victory Thursday over the Golden State Warriors.

Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) – Steve Nash had 18 points and 11 assists to lead the Phoenix Suns to an easy 112-88 victory Thursday over the Golden State Warriors.

Channing Frye added 17 points and Jared Dudley scored 13 off the bench in a well-balanced effort for Phoenix, which has won five of its last six games, including back-to-back victories over the Warriors.

The Suns won their previous game in Golden State on Monday despite nearly blowing a 23-point lead in the second half.

The Warriors went on to beat Denver on Wednesday, wrapping up a 4-4 homestand that was their longest of the season.

But they fell again to the Suns despite five players scoring in double figures. Ekpe Udoh and Reggie Williams led the way with 16 points apiece off the bench and Stephen Curry scored 12.

© 2011 The Sports Network

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