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

Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) – Steve Nash had 18 points and 11 assists to lead the Phoenix Suns to an easy …

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.

GAME NOTES:

© 2011 The Sports Network

The Phoenix Suns did what they had to do against a tired Golden State Warriors team that played the night before in California and have very little depth. Defensively, the Warriors tried a variety of looks to slow down the bigger Suns but the result was often an unguarded shooter.

The Suns converted those looks and used a 19-3 run at the end of the second quarter to pull away. Unlike in many games this season, the bench was able to hold the lead in the fourth quarter allowing Steve Nash to only play 27 minutes. None of the Suns starters played over 30 minutes which in theory will be helpful as Phoenix plays in Utah tomorrow in what will surely be an emotionally charged game — the Jazz’ first without Jerry Sloan.

Defensively, Phoenix held the Warriors to 40 percent shooting and out-rebounded their opponent 47-32.

“The whole team is winning with defense, not only one guy. If the whole team is going to play great defense then we are obviously going to win the game,” Suns center Marcin Gortat said.

The Suns were led by 18 points and 11 assists from Steve Nash.

With this win, the Suns climb back to .500 and continue to build confidence for a late-season playoff chase.

“Well, we’re at .500…we’d like to be at about .650 but we have a lot of work to do. I thought we did a good job. We took care of business right from the start,” Alvin Gentry said.

Warriors forward David Lee agreed. Asked when the game got away, he responded with a question of his own, “What time did the game start?”

To make this game even more memorable, Jared Dudley recorded his first in-game dunk of the season and it was a beauty as seen in this video. 

“I don’t think they really wanted to play today,” Gortat said about the Warriors play tonight.

Over the past 10 games, the Suns have held their opponents to 42.1 percent shooting and 92.3 points. That includes games against some pretty good teams: Celtics, Hornets, Thunder and twice against the Warriors.

Phoenix Suns update:

Warriors (23-28) at Suns (24-25)

C: Andris Biedrins … Robin Lopez

PF: David Lee … Channing Frye

SF: Dorell Wright … Grant Hill

SG: Monta Ellis … Vince Carter

PG: Stephen Curry … Steve Nash

Key Warriors subs: Reggie Williams, Ekpe Udoh, Vladimir Radmanovic, Jeremy Lin.

Key Warriors injuries: Louis Amundson (back), Dan Gadzuric (back) and Acie Law (wrist).

* This Phoenix .500 race is taking forever. Tonight marks the Suns’ third chance of 2011 to get back to .500, where they last were on Dec. 19.

“We’re not going to do fireworks if we win (tonight) in the locker room,” Hill said, referring to the New Year’s Eve postgame display the owner arranged. “It’d be nice to be a little bit above .500 going into the All-Star break.”

Both of those chances ended in rare losses during this 9-4 stretch for the Suns, who had gone 4-12 before it with the stretch being capped by the 34-point loss at Denver.

“It’s been a difficult season at times but it seems like we’ve improved and we’re starting to play a lot better,” Hill said.

* The Suns would be hard-pressed to replicate the manner they beat Golden State on Monday but another victory does have a strong chance, considering the Suns have beaten the Warriors twice, the Warriors played Wednesday night while the Suns were off at home for two days and the Warriors are a 6-17 road team.

It is hard seeing Golden State, first in 3-point shooting, go 2 for 18 on 3s again. Golden State made 14 of 28 3s in Wednesday’s 116-114 win at Denver. And until Tuesday, Golden State was first in causing turnovers but the Suns had a season-low tying six against them on Tuesday. Denver committed 18 against the Warriors on Wednesday.

“We were real conscientious of making good simple plays,” Suns coach Alvin Gentry. “I didn’t think we tried to make anything great. Because of that, we got the ball in the position we wanted it and took advantage of it.”

The Suns have won eight of their past nine meetings with Golden State, which has not won its past 10 US Airways Center visits.

“The toughest thing in this league to do is when you play a team back to back,” Gentry said. “It’s a really tough thing, especially the way the game went up there. They didn’t make any shots and we played great.

“We took advantage of mismatches and we did a good job of throwing the ball inside. We didn’t turn the ball over. When you don’t turn the ball over against this team, you have a much better chance of containing of them offensively. We had six turnovers. When you do that, you don’t give them an opportunity to run out and get easy baskets.”

* The easy part to pick at in Monday’s win was the Suns’ feeble offensive fourth quarter, which was saved by two Frye shots. The Suns are averaging 18.5 points in their past 10 fourth quarters. It directly cost them their past two chances at .500.

The Suns began the game with a focus on posting up mismatches, particularly Carter or hill against Ellis, but got away from it down the stretch.

“A couple times, I told Steve don’t fall in love with it,” Hill said. “You can get a little much going every time but it was good. You have to go down there and make him work. He’s such a great player that you got to make him try to work on defense. That was our game plan.

“It was cool. It was fun. I felt like Carmelo — for a quarter.”

Hill said the Suns need to be more deliberate at times offensively in fourth-quarter stretches like that.

“I’ll take being up big and having to learn to manage a lead than being out of the game all together,” Hill said. “I don’t know if this is Phoenix Suns. The four years I’ve been here, when D’Antoni was here, a 20-point lead either way doesn’t mean much. That was certainly the mindset when we got down or when we got up. It’s a good problem to have.”

* Lopez played 15 minutes and Gortat played 21 minutes in Monday’s game. That was a function of Gortat getting two early fouls and how hard it is to play two big men against the lineups the Warriors use.

* Lou Amundson appears like he will be unable to face his old team for the third time this season due to injury. Amundson has missed the past three games with back spasms. He has played 23 of 51 games this season, missing 20 games due to injuries (back spasms, ankle sprain and a broken finger)..

* Goran Dragic will not play tonight and is doubtful for Friday’s game at Utah.

* Jerry Sloan is announcing at a press conference this afternoon that he is resigning as head coach. His lead assistant, Phil Johnson, is also resigning. Former Suns player Tyrone Corbin might be the pick to take over and coach his first game against Phoenix, which interviewed him for the job when Terry Porter was hired.

The last time the Suns faced Utah without Sloan was Nov. 19, 1988.

Tweetin’ at www.twitter.com/paulcoro

 

A pair of Pacific Division rivals collide tonight in the desert, where the Phoenix Suns will take on the Golden State Warriors at US Airways Center

(Sports Network) – A pair of Pacific Division rivals collide tonight in the desert, where the Phoenix Suns will take on the Golden State Warriors at US Airways Center

The Suns have beaten the Warriors twice already this season — both times in Oakland — and are undefeated in the last four matchups in this series. They are 10-2 in the previous 12 meetings between the two rivals.

To make matters worse for Golden State, it has dropped 10 in a row and 12 of its last 13 trips to the Valley of the Sun.

Phoenix has won four of five games overall and is coming off Monday’s 104-92 victory over the Warriors by the Bay. Channing Frye scored 19 points and Grant Hill added 18 for the Suns, who got 14 points and 15 assists from Steve Nash. Nash became the 11th player in NBA history to record 6,000 assists with a single team in the process. His 28 double-doubles leads all NBA guards.

“We kept separation for the longest time. At some stage they were going to make some shots,” said Suns head coach Alvin Gentry.

Gentry’s club has won six of the last eight at home and owns a 14-11 record as the host this season.

Golden State completed an eight-game homestand with Wednesday’s 116-114 win versus the Denver Nuggets and went 4-4 on the residency.

Monta Ellis finished with 37 points and buried a big three-pointer down the stretch for the Warriors, who have won four of five games and halted a seven- game skid to the Nuggets. Dorell Wright got into the act with 23 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, while David Lee finished with 16 points, 12 boards and six assists.

“I thought we did what we could,” Warriors head coach Keith Smart told NBA.com. “A couple games got away from us, but I think (closing with) four out of five (wins) won’t be too bad.”

Wright has scored 20 or more points in 11 of his last 22 games, while Lee has registered a double-double in eight of 12 contests. Ellis has netted 20-plus points in 40 of his 51 games in 2010-11.

The Warriors are just 6-17 away from Oakland this season.

© 2011 The Sports Network

After extending one winning streak against Golden State earlier this week, the Phoenix Suns now have a good chance to continue an even lengthier run of success at home over the Warriors.

In position to reach the .500 mark for the first time in almost two months, the Suns try for an 11th consecutive home victory over the Warriors when the teams meet Thursday night.

Phoenix’s 104-92 win at Golden State on Monday was its fourth in five games. The 10th-place Suns (24-25), currently 2 1/2 games out of the final Western Conference playoff spot, have not been at .500 since they were 13-13 on Dec. 19.

“It hasn’t been a very fun year in large part, but it’s been more fun lately,” said Steve Nash(notes), who had 14 points with 15 assists on his 37th birthday. “We just have to keep working every day, we have to continue to improve and we also have to get a little bit tougher.”

Channing Frye(notes) scored 19 with 11 rebounds and Grant Hill(notes) added 18 points as the Suns ran out to a 33-17 first-quarter lead and made 13 3-pointers en route to their fourth straight win and eighth in nine games against the Warriors (23-28).

Phoenix has averaged 115.8 points and shot 48.5 percent during a 10-game home winning streak over Golden State that followed a 110-100 loss on March 18, 2005.

Nash has averaged 19.3 points and 13.0 assists in his last six games against the Warriors.

While Golden State prefers to push the tempo like the Suns, it has not had much success in two losses to Phoenix this season.

“You’re not going to beat them at their game,” said Warriors coach Keith Smart, whose team trailed by 23 points at one point Monday. “It’s not going to happen.”

The Warriors, who went 2 of 18 from 3-point range, can’t afford their intensity level to waver against a Phoenix club giving up 90.6 points per game over the last five contests.

“We played terrible, it’s embarrassing,” said guard Monta Ellis(notes) after he scored 21 points and pulled down 12 rebounds Monday.

Ellis has averaged 30.5 points his last four games against the Suns, all in Oakland. However, he’s totaled 34 while injuries have limited him to two appearances during the teams’ last four meetings at US Airways Center.

Despite Ellis’ and the Warriors’ struggles at Phoenix, Monday’s loss to the Suns is their only defeat in five games.

Ellis scored 22 of his 37 points in the first half while Dorell Wright(notes) added 23 with 11 rebounds and eight assists as the Warriors shot 51.1 percent in Wednesday’s 116-114 win over Denver.

Reserve Reggie Williams(notes) scored 18 points after posting 19 against the Suns. The second-year swingman has averaged 18.7 points on 21-of-30 shooting in three career games versus Phoenix.

“The guy that no one seems to talk about, every time he plays against us he seems to play great is Reggie Williams,” Suns coach Alvin Gentry told the team’s official website.

The Warriors have lost two in a row and four of five on the road.

Steve Nash already had enjoyed his 37th birthday in Oakland on Monday – receiving a call from his twin 6-year-old daughters and even having some pizza slices – but spent much of the evening handing out presents in the Suns’ 104-92 victory over the Warriors.

Nash committed a turnover following his first assist, but then delivered 14 assists without a miscue. Twenty-something Nash never recorded a game of at least 15 assists with one turnover or none. Nash did it 12 times with Amar’e Stoudemire over the past six years.

This season, Nash has done it twice, helping to put his assist average at 11.1, which tops or ties his past three season averages.

“I don’t really feel any different,” said Nash, the NBA’s seventh-oldest player. “I think the numbers are basically the same. This year has been a trying year, too. In a lot of ways, this has been the hardest year. I think a lot of those things – All-Star, MVP – you’ve got to carry your team to a place. Our team has been so up and down that I don’t really even think about that stuff. I’m just trying to see if we can get it better.”

Barring a need for an injury replacement, Nash won’t be an All-Star this season. Trade speculation might have cut into his fun anyway.

Nash is trying to catch up on fun, something that was lacking after his team was turned upside-down. He has more new teammates than returning ones from last year’s conference-finals team. The Suns have won nine of their past 13 games and, with a win Thursday against Golden State, can reach .500 for the first time since Dec. 19.

“That’s definitely more enjoyable,” Nash said. “We’ve got an uphill climb. The first goal would be to get back to .500. The second goal would be to stay there. The third one would be to start creeping up with our winning percentage so that we can get in the playoffs. Now’s not the time for complacency.”

Nash is averaging 16.7 points and 11.1 assists, greater averages than the past two seasons, despite losing the team’s top two scorers, Stoudemire and Jason Richardson.

“I feel like that’s my job,” Nash said. “Come out, be aggressive, make plays for my teammates.

“It might not be the same way without Amar’e, but there is still a way to get it done, try to adjust and find ways to be effective, manipulate the defense, make them pay for however they want to play us.”

Nash said he takes in trade speculation for two seconds before moving on, especially after Suns management publicly stated an intent to keep him.

“I appreciate them being faithful to me and telling the press that they’re not going to trade me,” Nash said. “That’s probably kept the trade talk to a minimum. I don’t really even concentrate on that, regardless. I’m always going to concentrate on trying to rally the troops, be accountable every day, try to lead the team, be aggressive on the floor and make plays so we can win as many games and try to get back to the playoffs.

“I’m loyal to the Suns, the franchise, the fans. I was given a contract, and I want to honor it. That’s all I’m concerned with. When they tell me it’s time to go, it’s time to go. But until then, I’m just going to play my hardest and try to get better.”

OAKLAND – Golden State already is as good as it comes in the NBA at shooting 3-pointers and getting steals, but the Suns supposedly were catching the Warriors at their best.

Photos from the game | Box score

Always formidable offensively, Golden State had not allowed a team to score 100 points in three consecutive victories, the last of which came against Chicago for Golden State’s best win of the season.

The Suns did not have to beat the Warriors’ best Monday night. Golden State did not shoot well. Phoenix took care of the ball. But the Suns still had to get backed up to the edge of the cliff after leading by 23 points but finally held their ground and won 104-92 at Oracle Arena.

Phoenix won for the second time this season in Oakland and the eighth time in the teams’ past nine meetings despite scoring two points over seven minutes of the fourth quarter to let Golden State (22-28) cut the Suns lead to 93-88 with 4:42 to go.

But after more than four scoreless minutes, Channing Frye, who had shot 32 percent in the previous seven games, hit a 3-pointer and jumper successively and Steve Nash followed with a 3-pointer to put Phoenix’s lead back to 13 with 3:07 to go.

The Suns outscored the Warriors, who came in shooting 40 percent on 3s, 39-6 from the 3-point line. Frye made five of his nine 3-point tries for a 19-point, 11-rebound game as the Suns shot 13 of 30 from 3-point range overall.

Golden State shot 2 of 18 from 3-point range and shot 43.4 percent overall with the NBA’s fifth-leading scorer, guard Monta Ellis, going 5 of 17 against Grant Hill and Mickael Pietrus, who broke a slump with all 12 of his points in the first half.

“I thought defensively Grant did a great job on Monta,” Suns Coach Alvin Gentry said. “Seventeen shots, 21 points. He’s just pretty much impossible to keep out of the lane. At some stage, he’s going to shoot a bunch of foul shots because he is always in the attack model. Overall, we did a good job, though. To hold that team to 92 points is really gratifying to us, because that is one of the best offensive teams in the whole league.”

The Suns limited the early opportunities for Ellis, who scored 38 in the win vs. Chicago, and backcourt mate Stephen Curry, and Golden State’s Dorell Wright had an 0-for-9 first half. Ellis still led Golden State in points (21) and rebounds (five) and handed out five assists.

“We played terrible,” Ellis said. “It was embarrassing the way we came out and played.”

The Suns wound up shooting just 43.7 percent but tied a season low for turnovers with six, matching their total Nov. 28 in a loss at Denver. Golden State opponents average 16.4 turnovers per game this season.

The Suns led 81-58 for their biggest lead with 4:42 to go in the third quarter on the strength of a 62-point first half in which the Suns used their size at the wings for early post-ups and made nine of their 3s. They got 12 first-half points each from Hill and Pietrus.

“That’s what I do, bring that spark off the bench,” Pietrus said. “That’s Mickael Pietrus.”

Nash, who turned 37 on Monday, finished with 14 points and 15 assists, including seven in the first quarter to help steal the Warriors’ energy with a 17-4 start to the game.

“We’re getting better,” Nash said. “We’re getting roles and cohesion. Everybody’s feeling more confident when we step on the court that we can win games. There’s not as much confusion or looking around or not being on the same page.”

The Suns (24-25) will get their third chance of 2011 to move to .500 on Thursday when they play Golden State again at home.

View from press row

So much was being made of Steve Nash’s 37th birthday before Monday’s game that Mickael Pietrus reminded a visitor that it also was his 29th birthday. He gave himself a breakout game. Returning Monday to his first NBA stop in Oakland, Pietrus made three 3-pointers and a fast-break layup in the first 4:11 of the second quarter, when the Suns needed a scoring bridge with Nash out.

Report

Key player

Channing Frye and Mickael Pietrus broke slumps and shot 11 for 21 combined, including 8 for 14 on 3-pointers.

Key moment

The Suns opened with a 17-4 lead, forcing Golden State’s Dorell Wright to miss four of the first nine shots. The Warriors’ Monta Ellis also didn’t get a shot during that span.

Key number

11.1 Golden State’s 3-point shooting percentage Monday night.

By Marcus Thompson II
Oakland Tribune

And just like that, the high from the biggest win of the season is gone.

All the good feelings the Warriors created with a three-game winning streak, capped by a win over the Chicago Bulls, was erased by Monday’s 104-92 home loss to Phoenix.

“We played terrible,” guard Monta Ellis said. “It was embarrassing the way we came out and played. We had been playing great, and to come out here and put on a performance like this is very disappointing.”

The Suns, led by a Hall of Fame-bound point guard Steve Nash, were a different beast from the Bulls squad the Warriors tamed on Saturday.

Phoenix shot 50 percent for the first three quarters and finished with six players in double-figures, leaving the Warriors scrambling all over the court. And the Warriors didn’t have the offense to keep up.

Ellis led the Warriors with 21 points and 12 rebounds, but he was 5 for 17 from the field. David Lee had 16 points and 10 rebounds but didn’t score in the second half. Point guard Stephen Curry had 15 points and eight assists, but he was 0 for 6 from 3-point range with five turnovers. Small forward Dorell Wright needed 13 shots to get nine points.

“To hold that team to 92 points was really gratifying to us,” Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. “Because that’s one of the best offensive teams in the league, especially that young backcourt.”

The Warriors are now 3-4 on the homestand, which they close out Wednesday vs. Denver. Golden State is 8-7 on

this 22-game stretch they’ve identified as critical to their postseason hopes.

Phoenix was one of the few losing teams on this homestand, sitting just above the Warriors in the standings. Monday, the Warriors had the Suns looking like a serious contender, one game after Golden State handily beat a serious contender in Chicago.

Smart said he was concerned about how drastically different an opponent Phoenix would be, as the Bulls and the Suns are about as contrasting as any two teams in the league. The Warriors had to go from protecting the paint to guarding the 3-point line, from a grind-it-out physical game to a wide-open finesse match.

“With Nash, he puts a little bit more pressure,” Smart said. “They want to get the ball up and down the floor and go for the 3-point shot as quick as they can. And he’s going to be the catalyst for pushing that tempo.”

The Warriors couldn’t stop it for most of the game.

Nash finished with 15 assists and 14 points. Phoenix knocked down 13 from behind the arc. The Suns supporting cast got into a groove.

Four minutes into the game the Warriors were down 12, and they trailed 33-17 at the end of the first quarter. Golden State got down by as much as 20 in the second quarter. At one point, the Suns had 19 assists (eight by Nash) on 20 baskets and were shooting 56.8 percent. The Warriors trailed 62-45 at the half.

The Warriors got down by as much as 23 in the third before mounting a comeback. By the end of the third quarter, they trailed by 14. Finally, in the fourth quarter, the Warriors defense made some headway.

Phoenix was 6 for 24 from the field in the final period with six turnovers. And the Warriors finally mustered some offense to put a scare into Phoenix. The Warriors put together an 11-0 run early in the fourth quarter to get back in the game, with a pair of free throws by Ellis’ cutting the deficit to 93-88 with 4:42 left.

But Nash answered by finding Channing Frye for a 3-pointer. Then Frye hit a long 2-pointer. Then Nash hit a 3-pointer. In a minute and 35 seconds, the Suns’ lead was back up to 13.

“You’re not going to beat them at their game,” Smart said. “It’s not going to happen.”

Notes: Swingman Reggie Williams scored 19 points on 10 shots. He split a pair of 3-point attempts and now has made nine of his last 10 from behind the arc. “… Warriors guard Acie Law missed his third consecutive game with a sprained right wrist. “… The Suns had six turnovers, the fewest the Warriors have forced in a game this season. “… Nash became the 11th player in NBA history to record at least 6,000 assists with one team.

By Marcus Thompson II
Oakland Tribune

And just like that, the high from the biggest win of the season is gone.

All the good feelings the Warriors created with a three-game winning streak, capped by a win over the Chicago Bulls, was erased by Monday’s 104-92 home loss to Phoenix.

“We played terrible,” guard Monta Ellis said. “It was embarrassing the way we came out and played. We had been playing great, and to come out here and put on a performance like this is very disappointing.”

The Suns, led by a Hall of Fame-bound point guard Steve Nash, were a different beast from the Bulls squad the Warriors tamed on Saturday.

Phoenix shot 50 percent for the first three quarters and finished with six players in double-figures, leaving the Warriors scrambling all over the court. And the Warriors didn’t have the offense to keep up.

Ellis led the Warriors with 21 points and 12 rebounds, but he was 5 for 17 from the field. David Lee had 16 points and 10 rebounds but didn’t score in the second half. Point guard Stephen Curry had 15 points and eight assists, but he was 0 for 6 from 3-point range with five turnovers. Small forward Dorell Wright needed 13 shots to get nine points.

“To hold that team to 92 points was really gratifying to us,” Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. “Because that’s one of the best offensive teams in the league, especially that young backcourt.”

The Warriors are now 3-4 on the homestand, which they close out Wednesday vs. Denver. Golden State is 8-7 on

this 22-game stretch they’ve identified as critical to their postseason hopes.

Phoenix was one of the few losing teams on this homestand, sitting just above the Warriors in the standings. Monday, the Warriors had the Suns looking like a serious contender, one game after Golden State handily beat a serious contender in Chicago.

Smart said he was concerned about how drastically different an opponent Phoenix would be, as the Bulls and the Suns are about as contrasting as any two teams in the league. The Warriors had to go from protecting the paint to guarding the 3-point line, from a grind-it-out physical game to a wide-open finesse match.

“With Nash, he puts a little bit more pressure,” Smart said. “They want to get the ball up and down the floor and go for the 3-point shot as quick as they can. And he’s going to be the catalyst for pushing that tempo.”

The Warriors couldn’t stop it for most of the game.

Nash finished with 15 assists and 14 points. Phoenix knocked down 13 from behind the arc. The Suns supporting cast got into a groove.

Four minutes into the game the Warriors were down 12, and they trailed 33-17 at the end of the first quarter. Golden State got down by as much as 20 in the second quarter. At one point, the Suns had 19 assists (eight by Nash) on 20 baskets and were shooting 56.8 percent. The Warriors trailed 62-45 at the half.

The Warriors got down by as much as 23 in the third before mounting a comeback. By the end of the third quarter, they trailed by 14. Finally, in the fourth quarter, the Warriors defense made some headway.

Phoenix was 6 for 24 from the field in the final period with six turnovers. And the Warriors finally mustered some offense to put a scare into Phoenix. The Warriors put together an 11-0 run early in the fourth quarter to get back in the game, with a pair of free throws by Ellis’ cutting the deficit to 93-88 with 4:42 left.

But Nash answered by finding Channing Frye for a 3-pointer. Then Frye hit a long 2-pointer. Then Nash hit a 3-pointer. In a minute and 35 seconds, the Suns’ lead was back up to 13.

“You’re not going to beat them at their game,” Smart said. “It’s not going to happen.”

Notes: Swingman Reggie Williams scored 19 points on 10 shots. He split a pair of 3-point attempts and now has made nine of his last 10 from behind the arc. “… Warriors guard Acie Law missed his third consecutive game with a sprained right wrist. “… The Suns had six turnovers, the fewest the Warriors have forced in a game this season. “… Nash became the 11th player in NBA history to record at least 6,000 assists with one team.

Published: Monday, January 31, 2011, 8:00 AM     Updated: Monday, January 31, 2011, 8:09 AM

No goal-tend call makes it legal, says Grant Hill. (Paul Coro, Arizona Republic).

Wizards Josh Howard still concerned with knee. (Michael Lee, Washington Post).

Golden State Warriors eye Andre Iguodala. (Marcus Thompson II, San Jose Mercury News).

Could Warkentien’s presence help Knicks land Melo? (Ken Berger, CBSSports.com).

 

The Phoenix Suns are trying to avoid matching their longest losing streak of the season, set just last month.

So are the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Hoping to solve its scoring woes, Phoenix will look to snap a three-game slide Sunday night at US Airways Center by taking advantage of an injury-riddled Cavaliers team which has dropped nine in a row.

The Suns (14-20) are averaging 105.8 points – among the best in the league – but have been held to 93.0 per game over their last four. They are at risk of being held under 100 in five consecutive games for the first time since 2004.

Phoenix is 2-12 when scoring 100 points or less, but it could be in line for a big offensive performance against a Cavaliers club allowing 108.5 per game in its last six.

Plus, Cleveland (8-28) is trying to avoid another double-digit losing streak, having dropped 10 straight Nov. 30-Dec. 17 for its worst slide since January 2002.

The Suns snapped a season-high four-game losing streak with a win over Detroit on New Year’s Eve, but they’ve since dropped three in a row.

After narrow losses in Sacramento last Sunday and to the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, Phoenix lost to former Suns star Amare Stoudemire(notes) and New York 121-96 on Friday night. It was the Suns’ worst home loss since a 128-103 defeat to Memphis on Jan. 2, 2010.

“We didn’t play bad against the Lakers, we didn’t play bad against Sacramento; we found a way to lose both games, but we’re working hard in practice and it’s not transferring to the court enough,” Steve Nash(notes) said after Phoenix’s ninth home loss, matching last season’s total.

“We’re a little inconsistent, we’ve lost some confidence, but we’ve got to fight through it. We’ve got to be tough and we got to find a way to win some of these games and not feel sorry for ourselves.”

The Cavs could feel sorry for themselves considering their long injury list. In a 116-98 loss at Golden State on Friday, Cleveland played without starters Daniel Gibson(notes) (ankle), Anthony Parker(notes) (back) and Anderson Varejao(notes) (ankle).

None of them are likely to be available Sunday.

“All you can do sometimes is shake your head when things like this keep cropping up,” said coach Byron Scott, forced to use his 12th different starting lineup Friday. “It’s the opportunity for these young guys to show us what they can do.”

Undrafted rookie Manny Harris(notes) has been doing just that. He has started four of the last five games and scored a season-high 16 versus Golden State.

“At times, (the game) has slowed down, but I still slip into bad habits,” Harris told the team’s official website. “I think the more and more I play, they’ll continue to slow down and I’ll make less and less mistakes.”

Antawn Jamison(notes) had 21 points to lead his team in scoring for the third consecutive game. He is averaging 29.3 over that span.

Cleveland has won the last four meetings with Phoenix as Mo Williams(notes) has averaged 27.3 points, including a career-high 44 in a 109-92 victory Feb. 11, 2009.

The Cavaliers are mired in a 15-game road losing streak, their longest since 2003. This is their second stop on a five-game road trip.

Although they’re in a bit of a funk, Steve Nash(notes) and the Phoenix Suns still boast one of the league’s most potent offenses.

These kinds of fast-paced systems have routinely given the Philadelphia 76ers fits.

Nash may have Vince Carter(notes) as a teammate for the first time Wednesday night when the Suns try to avoid a fourth straight loss in a matchup with the 76ers.

Nash had 21 points and 15 assists Sunday against the Los Angeles Clippers, but it wasn’t enough as Phoenix lost 108-103, its seventh defeat in nine games.

The Suns (13-16) hope opening a stretch of five of six games at the US Airways Center can help keep them from losing four in a row for the first time since Jan. 13-18.

The Suns swept the two-game series from the 76ers last season, and have won 20 of the last 23 meetings in Phoenix. Nash averaged 20.5 points and 16.5 assists against Philadelphia last season, as the Suns averaged 112.5 points on 52.1 percent shooting.

Nash and the Suns prefer to push the ball up the court, averaging 107.4 points, and this could spell trouble for the 76ers.

Philadelphia (12-19) struggled against uptempo Golden State on Monday in losing 110-95, falling to 0-14 when allowing at least 99 points.

“Tonight was one of those games where we were a step slow,” 76ers coach Doug Collins said. “When you’re a step slow against a team like this, then you’re chasing.”

Jrue Holiday(notes) had 23 points and 11 assists on Monday for Philadelphia, which lost for the third time in five contests on its season-high eight-game road trip. It could be tough for the Sixers to win again on this lengthy trek, considering their recent troubles in Phoenix and with games remaining against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday and New Orleans on Monday. The Lakers and Hornets are a combined 23-7 at home.

Although Philadelphia had trouble keeping up with Golden State, it was without Andre Iguodala(notes) (right Achilles), Jason Kapono(notes) (sore calf), Lou Williams (personal) and Brian James (personal).

Iguodala, who is averaging 14.2 points and 5.5 rebounds, and Williams, scoring 11.8 points, could both be back for this game. Iguodala averaged 22.0 points on 62.1 percent shooting against the Suns last season.

Phoenix is also hoping to be a bit closer to full strength.

Carter has missed all four games for the Suns since being acquired in a six-player trade with Orlando on Dec. 18 because of a sore left knee. The eight-time All-Star, who turns 34 on Jan. 26, could finally see some playing time against the 76ers, whom he averaged 17.0 points in four games against last season.

While Carter was the biggest name coming to Phoenix in that blockbuster trade, Mickael Pietrus(notes) might be the most dynamic scorer acquired in that deal.

After scoring two points in 13 minutes in his Suns debut against Miami on Thursday, Pietrus finished with a season-high 25 points and hit 5 of 8 from 3-point range against the Clippers.

“We thought he would be able to play for us like that,” Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. “He’s an excellent shooter. But more than anything, I liked his toughness on the defensive end.”

Although they’re in a bit of a funk, Steve Nash(notes) and the Phoenix Suns still boast one of the league’s most potent offenses.

These kinds of fast-paced systems have routinely given the Philadelphia 76ers fits.

Nash may have Vince Carter(notes) as a teammate for the first time Wednesday night when the Suns try to avoid a fourth straight loss in a matchup with the 76ers.

Nash had 21 points and 15 assists Sunday against the Los Angeles Clippers, but it wasn’t enough as Phoenix lost 108-103, its seventh defeat in nine games.

The Suns (13-16) hope opening a stretch of five of six games at the US Airways Center can help keep them from losing four in a row for the first time since Jan. 13-18.

The Suns swept the two-game series from the 76ers last season, and have won 20 of the last 23 meetings in Phoenix. Nash averaged 20.5 points and 16.5 assists against Philadelphia last season, as the Suns averaged 112.5 points on 52.1 percent shooting.

Nash and the Suns prefer to push the ball up the court, averaging 107.4 points, and this could spell trouble for the 76ers.

Philadelphia (12-19) struggled against uptempo Golden State on Monday in losing 110-95, falling to 0-14 when allowing at least 99 points.

“Tonight was one of those games where we were a step slow,” 76ers coach Doug Collins said. “When you’re a step slow against a team like this, then you’re chasing.”

Jrue Holiday(notes) had 23 points and 11 assists on Monday for Philadelphia, which lost for the third time in five contests on its season-high eight-game road trip. It could be tough for the Sixers to win again on this lengthy trek, considering their recent troubles in Phoenix and with games remaining against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday and New Orleans on Monday. The Lakers and Hornets are a combined 23-7 at home.

Although Philadelphia had trouble keeping up with Golden State, it was without Andre Iguodala(notes) (right Achilles), Jason Kapono(notes) (sore calf), Lou Williams (personal) and Brian James (personal).

Iguodala, who is averaging 14.2 points and 5.5 rebounds, and Williams, scoring 11.8 points, could both be back for this game. Iguodala averaged 22.0 points on 62.1 percent shooting against the Suns last season.

Phoenix is also hoping to be a bit closer to full strength.

Carter has missed all four games for the Suns since being acquired in a six-player trade with Orlando on Dec. 18 because of a sore left knee. The eight-time All-Star, who turns 34 on Jan. 26, could finally see some playing time against the 76ers, whom he averaged 17.0 points in four games against last season.

While Carter was the biggest name coming to Phoenix in that blockbuster trade, Mickael Pietrus(notes) might be the most dynamic scorer acquired in that deal.

After scoring two points in 13 minutes in his Suns debut against Miami on Thursday, Pietrus finished with a season-high 25 points and hit 5 of 8 from 3-point range against the Clippers.

“We thought he would be able to play for us like that,” Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. “He’s an excellent shooter. But more than anything, I liked his toughness on the defensive end.”