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

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Photos from the game | Box score | Twitter updates

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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.

Suns coach Alvin Gentry has an ideal description for Jared Dudley’s play — parasitic.

Dudley is the NBA’s parasite. He using his hustle, savvy and opportunity to benefit at the expense of those who are less engaged. The latest example has been his play since returning to the starting lineup. He has feasted off being fouled, took advantage of point guard Steve Nash creating open 3-point shots and using angles and reads to get to balls against players who are bigger or quicker.

The Suns had to go without that Saturday night, when Dudley sat out the Suns’ home game against Charlotte because of a thigh bruise. Dudley has scored at least 15 points in each of the four starts he has made since a five-game bench stint. He went from averaging 5.8 points as a reserve to averaging 16.3 in those four starts.

“This is what I was supposed to do,” Dudley said. “I expected to do this just because I know I can shoot the ball, and I know I can play, especially with Steve and this offense. I think I’ve even added a dimension where I can get to the basket to drop off and make my teammates better.”

The Suns are 5-3 when Dudley scores 15, but that scoring was inconsistent on his first go-around as starter this season, when he opened it in a shooting slump. Dudley has made eight of his past 15 3s, bolstering his career-best season for scoring (10.8) and rebounding (4.1) averages.

Dudley shot 3 for 13 in the first two games, both losses, and did not score in the second game against Philadelphia — a remarkable no-no for a starting shooting guard .

“The chemistry in the first part of the season was tough,” Dudley said. “Guys were staying home close (to me on defense). I’ve had a lot more space and been able to put the ball down better. Once you hit a couple, it’s confidence. I told you in the beginning of the year that you go by percentages. At the end of the year, I’m going to be shooting a good percentage.”

Dudley had scored 23 of his 65 points over the previous four games at the free-throw line. It was the first time in his career that he shot at least four free throws in four consecutive games.

“It’s something I’ve worked on, and my free-throw percentage (81.4) has gotten better,” Dudley said. “That’s something I worked on, and that makes you even more aggressive. It’s hard for me to get all the way to the basket because I’m not the fastest guy. Usually someone’s on my hip and (I) try to do what the whole NBA does — flop and … pray for a call. I did theater in seventh, eighth, ninth and 10th grades, so I have to pay off for those classes.”

Guard Michael Redd started in Dudley’s place Saturday night, getting his first start with Phoenix in 10 appearances.

Free throws

- Suns center Marcin Gortat has a chance to become the seventh Suns player to average at least 15 points and 10 rebounds in a season. One of the others was current Charlotte coach Paul Silas. Charles Barkley (four times), Shawn Marion (three) and Neal Walk (two) did it multiple times, and Connie Hawkins and Maurice Lucas also each did it once.

- The Suns have played 23 games in this lockout-shortened season. The NBA’s previous lockout-shortened schedule, in 1999, tipped off on this date — Feb. 5.

- This season is the 20th for US Airways Center. The Suns have a losing record at home this season but have the fourth-best home record in the NBA since the arena opened with in 1992-93, when the Suns reached the NBA Finals. They have won more than 70 percent of their home games.

Each week, a member of the Suns talks about some topics outside of Suns games. This week: Suns guard Sebastian Telfair.

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Profile: Sebastian Telfair

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Question: Why do you look and point upward each time you take the floor, whether it is checking in or out of a huddle?

Answer: I’ve been doing that a long time. I won’t tell you what I say, but it’s kind of like a prayer to my grandma.

Q: What is your favorite spot in Brooklyn?

A: My favorite spot would be Coney Island Nathan’s.

Q: So you’re a big Coney Island dog fan?

A: Yeah, that’s definitely required when you grow up there. It’s a summer tradition. The history there, and you got the boardwalk and the beach and the amusement park.

Q: Do you like the roller coasters?

A: I’m not in love with roller coasters. I would get on some, but I’m not in love with them.

Q: Where have you enjoyed living the most out of your six NBA stops?

A: I would have to say it’s a mixture of Minneapolis and Phoenix. In Minneapolis, it was quiet but it had nice restaurants and it had a little nightlife if you wanted to get out. But nothing is topping Phoenix with all the restaurants, and the weather we have is amazing.

Q: Looking back, what do you think about the book (The Jump) and the documentary film (“Through the Fire”) that were done about your transition from high school to the NBA?

A: I’ve got mixed feelings about it. I still think it’s pretty cool to have the experiences and … get the opportunity to do a documentary and have a book. I think the documentary is a lot cooler than the book.

Q: Without input on the book, how did you feel reading it?

A: I could take being misportrayed, but I can’t take lies. Other than that, I’m OK with it.

Q: What would have happened if you had gone to Louisville?

A: Who knows? I think I would’ve got a championship in college. … They went to the Final Four during my rookie year. With me, it would’ve put them over the hump.

HOUSTON (AP)

Kevin Martin scored 16 points, Kyle Lowry had eight rebounds and nine assists and the Houston Rockets beat the Phoenix Suns 99-81 on Friday night.

Chase Budinger added 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Rockets, who got another strong effort from their reserves to beat the Suns for only the second time in the last nine meetings. Courtney Lee and Patrick Patterson also scored 12 points apiece off the bench for Houston.

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