The Phoenix Suns are on the outside looking in at the Western Conference playoff picture and are running out of time to gain the necessary ground.

The New Orleans Hornets hope David West(notes) will be around down the stretch as they attempt to hang onto their postseason spot.

Phoenix hosts New Orleans on Friday night in a matchup of teams coming off less-than-ideal victories.

The Hornets (41-31) needed a 20-foot bank shot from Emeka Okafor(notes) at the end of regulation Thursday to force overtime before eventually winning 121-117. Seventh-place New Orleans extended their lead to one full game over eighth-place Memphis and pulled within one-half game of sixth-place Portland with 10 remaining.

First-year coach Monty Williams has worked his team hard in practice of late as the playoffs near.

“We tried to create a bunker mentality, playoff mentality,” Williams said. “Some things were said in practices that I didn’t want anybody else to hear. That’s just the way it’s got to be for us.”

The Hornets hope to hear good news regarding West, who scored 29 points before leaving the game near the end of regulation after his dunk tied it at 103. West hurt his left knee, but X-rays came back negative and he is scheduled to undergo an MRI prior to the game.

“The way he was lying down, I could tell he was seriously hurt,” Okafor said of West.

Chris Paul(notes) scored 24 points, bouncing back from a 0-for-9 shooting, four-point performance Saturday in a loss to Boston. Paul is averaging 26.5 points and 10.8 assists in his last four games against the Suns.

Paul scored 26 points in each of the first two meetings this season, which each team winning on its home court.

Phoenix (36-34) has won two straight and four of six at home after a 114-106 win Wednesday against Toronto, allowing it to maintain some playoff hopes.

The Suns are 10th in the West, three games back of Memphis with 12 games remaining.

Phoenix needed 63 points from its bench to beat the Raptors after Grant Hill(notes) (flu symptoms) and Mickael Pietrus(notes) (sprained right knee) left before the end of the first quarter.

Backup point guard Aaron Brooks(notes) scored a team-high 25 and added eight assists for the Suns, who were playing on consecutive nights after a 139-137 triple-overtime loss Tuesday against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Jared Dudley(notes), who scored 25 points March 16 in a 100-95 loss to the Hornets, added 13.

“I just wanted to be aggressive, as coach (Alvin Gentry) asked me to, and if the shot was there, take it,” Brooks said. “We played hard. It was kind of hard. We got in late and we got it done.”

Steve Nash(notes) scored 10 points and had 15 assists Jan. 30 in a 104-102 victory against New Orleans, but the Suns nearly blew an eight-point lead in the final 18 seconds. Hill appeared to dodge a goaltending call in the final seconds, and Paul missed a last-second 3-pointer as Phoenix held on.

Marcin Gortat(notes), who is averaging just 9.3 points, scored a career-high 25 in the victory.

The Suns have won three straight meetings against the Hornets in Phoenix and five of seven overall in the series.

The Phoenix Suns have played well with their backs against the wall this season and did so again tonight as they ground out a win over the Toronto Raptors. It wasn’t the prettiest game of the season and it took contributions from all 12 active players with everyone playing at least eight minutes. The only exceptions to that were Grant Hill (6 minutes) and Mickael Pietrus (2 minutes). Both left the game early and were unable to return. Hill was “exhausted” and had flu symptoms and was sent home after starting the game. Pietrus landed awkwardly and sprained a knee. 

The loss of those two players forced coach Alvin Gentry even deeper into his bench as he used combinations for the first time all season. Steve Nash, who only played 21 total minutes after Tuesday’s triple overtime loss to the Lakers, played crunch time with Aaron Brooks for the first time all season. Third-string point guard Zabian Dowdell also saw court time with Brooks.

To cover up for the lack of defense with the two point guard formation, the Suns went to the Suns defense which proved effective against the Raptors.

“When they went zone it took us out of any flow that we had,” Toronto coach Jay Triano said, “Overall, until they went zone, we were doing alright.”

Suns big men Channing Frye an Marcin Gortat both played well in big minutes. Frye, who played 56 minutes in last night’s game which is the most by any NBA player in a single game this season, was called upon to play 40 tonight. Gortat chipped in 34 minutes of his own.

Both guys came up huge again with Frye recording 14 points and seven rebounds and two huge three point shots early in the fourth quarter to give the Suns a lead. Gortat finished with 15 points and eight rebounds and had five blocks in the game, including two in the final minutes to help secure the win.

“Channing (Frye) and Marcin (Gortat) are about to kill me — I think Channing has played 90 minutes in the last two nights or something like that,” Gentry said about the effort his big men gave.

“I thought it was our best win of the year, really. That was a total team effort right there.”

It was the kind of “chemistry win” the Suns were famous for last season and it’s what propelled them to the Western Conference Finals. This season, it comes just a little too late although the Suns still have a slim hope of reaching the playoffs.

“That would be the difference between last year’s team and this year’s team,” Nash said about the bench effort and team chemistry, “But again, we changed the team so many times it’s really hard to have the continuity and confidence to know that we have what it takes to win in those situations. That’s the difference.”

One of those changes was bringing in Aaron Brooks in place of Goran Dragic in late February. It was games like this with Nash too tired to give a full effort, that he was supposed to help win. In his first few tries with Nash sidelined with injury, Brooks didn’t deliver. Tonight he did with a season- and game-high 25 points to go with eight assists.

“Those guys played like an hour last game, I played 14 minutes. Coach told us to be ready, I didn’t think it would be that soon, but we came in and provided a little spark and got it close enough for our starters to come in and finish it off,” Brooks said.

A couple of things were different for Brooks in this game that helped him.

He played significant minutes off the ball with either Nash or Dowdell and for the first time, Gentry let Brooks call the plays when he was running point. Aaron said that helped him speed up the team and get into the offense quicker as he didn’t have to check back with the coach to get the play and then signal it to the rest of his team.

Channing Frye was once again involved in an altercation.

This time it was fellow former Arizona Wildcat, Jerryd Bayless who was called for a Flagrant Foul 1 as he grabbed Frye’s head while trying to fight through a screen. Both players were for called for technical fouls as the squared up and exchanged words. Frye said he didn’t want to talk about the incident.

While the two didn’t play together, both players also went to St. Mary’s High School in Phoenix and both played in Portland for the Trail Blazers.

The Suns will get a much needed day off tomorrow to rest and get treatment before they face the New Orleans Hornets on Friday and the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. The Suns trail the Hornets by three games in the standings but can make up ground with two remaining head-to-head meetings.

Published: Wednesday, March 16, 2011, 6:29 PM     Updated: Wednesday, March 16, 2011, 6:38 PM

Follow the New Orleans Hornets’ game against the Phoenix Suns tonight at the New Orleans Arena via our live Twitter feed.

Beat writers John Reid and Jimmy Smith and online sports editor Kevin Spain will check in with news, updates and observations throughout the game.

Published: Wednesday, March 16, 2011, 6:05 PM     Updated: Wednesday, March 16, 2011, 7:19 PM

FIRST QUARTER

Guard Marco Belinelli commits two fouls within the opening minute of the game and is replaced by Willie Green. Hornets gives up their first 3-pointer of the night by Vince Carter. Hornets go nearly two minutes without making their first basket before Trevor Ariza scores on layup after trailing 6-0.

PREGAME NOTES

Since returning from a concussion, New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul has averaged 30 points, 12.5 assists, six rebounds and six steals in the previous two games. . . .The seventh-seeded Hornets (39-30) enter tonight’s game  1 1/2 games ahead of eighth-seeded Memphis (37-31) and four games ahead of ninth-seeded Phoenix (33-32). .  . .Suns guard Steve Nash will return tonight after missing two games with a pelvic instability injury. . . .Dating to last season, the Suns have won three in a row against hte Hornets dating to last season. In January, the Hornets lost to the Suns 104-102. . . . Center Emeka Okafor has not scored in double figures in eight of the previous 10 games.

Published: Wednesday, March 16, 2011, 5:59 AM

New Orleans Hornets vs. Phoenix Suns

Time/Place: 7 p.m., the New Orleans Arena.

Radio: 106.7-FM. 830-AM (Spanish). TV: CST.

NOTABLE: New Orleans gave up a season-high 17 3-pointers in Monday’s 114-103 loss to the Denver Nuggets. … The Hornets are 23-10 at home, 12-8 against Southwest Division opponents. … Marco Belinelli has scored in double figures in seven of the past nine games. … Point guard Chris Paul has averaged 24 points, 12 assists and 4.5 rebounds in the past four games. … With 13 games remaining, the Hornets entered Tuesday in sixth place in the Western Conference, but only a half-game ahead of the seventh-place Portland Trail Blazers. … Suns point guard Steve Nash is expected to play after missing two games with symphysis irritation.

HORNETS

Player Pos Ht. Wt. PPG

Chris Paul G 6-0 175 16.3

Marco Belinelli G 6-5 200 10.2

Emeka Okafor C 6-10 255 10.4

David West F 6-9 240 18.8

Trevor Ariza F 6-8 210 10.9

Reserves: D. Andersen, C, 3.5; A. Gray, C, 2.9; W. Green, G, 8.6; J. Jack, G, 8.6. D.J. Mbenga, C, 1.3; J. Smith, F-C, 4.4; Q. Pondexter, F, 2.7; C. Landry, F, 11.7; J. McNeal, G, 0.0.

SUNS

Player Pos. Ht. Wt. PPG

Steve Nash G 6-3 178 15.7

Vince Carter G 6-6 220 14.6

Robin Lopez C 7-0 255 7.5

Hakim Warrick F 6-9 219 8.8

Grant Hill F 6-8 225 13.4

Reserves: M. Gortat, C, 8.7; M. Pietrus, G-F, 7.5; J. Dudley, F, 9.4; A. Brooks, G, 10.9; J. Childress, G-F, 5.1; Z. Dowdell, G, 4.5; G. Siler, C, 1.7; G. Lawal, F, 0.0.

NEW ORLEANS STAT PHOENIX

27th, 94.7 ppg Scoring 4th, 104.8 ppg

4th, 92.9 ppg Defense 26th, 105.4 ppg

21st, 40.5 rpg Rebounding 24th, 40.1 rpg

21st, 20.4 apg Assists 5th, 23.4

18th, 45.8 FG pct 6th, 47.0

16th, 35.4 3-pt pct 24th, 38.0

Marcin Gortat wanted out of Dwight Howard’s shadow for years. Well, he’s officially out of the shadow. (Zach McCann/Orlando Sentinel)

The Orlando Magic visit the Phoenix Suns — including Marcin Gortat, Vince Carter and Mickael Pietrus — today at 3:30 p.m. Here are some links to start off your NBA Sunday.

1. Battle of the big men: The Polish Hammer vs. Superman, Brian Schmitz, Orlando Sentinel

The Buzz: There’s sort of a master-Sensei thing going on today with Dwight Howard and Marcin Gortat.

2. Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns hold basketball reunion, Brian Schmitz, Orlando Sentinel

The Buzz: The Suns and Magic are playing for the first time since the six-player swap in mid-December.

3. Orlando Magic expected to be short-handed against Suns, Brian Schmitz, Orlando Sentinel

The Buzz: Redick is doubtful to play today with a strained abdomen.

4. Phoenix Suns’ Steve Nash doubtful to play vs. Orlando Magic, Paul Coro, Arizona Republic

The Buzz: Steve Nash might not play either. No Redick? No Nash? Hair stylists relax — the NBA’s two best heads of hair won’t get sweaty tonight.

5. Knicks Expect Billups in Lineup on Sunday, Howard Beck, New York Times

The Buzz: Billups is expected to return tonight, his first game action since bruising his thigh against the Magic on March 1.

6. Extra shooting pays off for Dorell Wright, Marcus Thompson II, Oakland Tribune

The Buzz: Wright went off for 32 points against the Magic, a performance credited to a tip from his coach.

7. New Orleans Hornets’ Chris Paul feeling fortunate after recent collision, concussion, John Reid, New Orleans Times Picayune

The Buzz: Paul went for 33 points and 15 assists Saturday night.

8. Boozer aims for Thursday return, Herb Gould, Chicago Sun Times

The Buzz: Carlos Boozer, out with a sprained ankle, expects to return Thursday.

9. Jackson says Cuban’s criticism of refs cost Mavs, Stephen Hawkins, Associated Press

The Buzz: Jackson and Cuban go at it again.

10. Michael Jordan: Bulls look title-ready, Nick Friedell, ESPNChicago.com

The Buzz: Jordan, who owns the Bobcats, said the Bulls could win another six titles with their current group.

By Seth Pollack – Regional Sports Editor

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Feb 23, 2011 - Put aside all the trade talk – that for once isn’t focused on the Suns — and get down to business. With 28 games left on the Phoenix Suns schedule, the final push begins tonight against the Atlanta Hawks. The Suns catch yet another break with the Hawks having played last night in Los Angeles. 

Atlanta was soundly defeated by the Lakers 104-80 last night in LA and while the blowout meant none of the Hawks starters played over 30 minutes, the travel after a game is always rough. The Suns benefited from that against the Boston Celtics and New Orleans Hornets but weren’t able to capitalize on the advantage versus the Dallas Mavericks and Charlotte Bobcats. 

The Hawks are led in scoring by former Sun Joe Johnson (19.5 ppg) and then forwards Al Horford (16 ppg) and Josh Smith (16.5 ppg). Both Horford and Smith present match up problems for the Suns on both ends of the floor. It will be a challenge for Channing Frye and Robin Lopez to guard the smaller, active opponents while defensively, their mobility and length can bother the Suns on the pick and roll.

The two teams met once early in the season with the Suns taking the road win, 118-114.

The game tips off at 7 p.m. local time and will be broadcast on Fox Sports Arizona and Sports 620 KTAR radio. Fans can follow along with the live game thread at Bright Side of the Sun.

PHOENIX AZ – JANUARY 30: Marcin Gortat #4 of the Phoenix Suns reacts after falling to the court during the NBA game against the New Orleans Hornets at US Airways Center on January 30 2011 in Phoenix Arizona. The Suns defeated the Hornets 104-102. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

By Seth Pollack – Regional Sports Editor

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Feb 2, 2011 - The Phoenix Suns have OWNED the Milwaukee Bucks in Phoenix. 22-straight home wins which is the NBA’s second-longest active streak. The last Bucks’ win in Phoenix came on February 21, 1987 but that’s really nothing more than a fluke. It’s not as if both teams haven’t changed over the years so in the end… irrelevant coincidence.

What does matter is who’s going to play and for the Bucks that’s means a trip through their extensive list of walking wounded. 

Brandon Jennings will make his first start tonight after having foot surgery but he will be limited to 24 minutes. He was reportedly very frustrated when he was pulled from the Bucks last game (a loss to the Clippers on Monday) after reaching his 18-minute limit. 

Andrew Bogut, who’s been playing very well since returning the devastating elbow injury suffered last year against the Suns, is a game time decision. He suffered a bone bruise to his right knee in the Clippers game when Randy Foye stumbled into him while setting a screen in the fourth quarter. After watching the film Bogut said he felt lucky it wasn’t worse.

“My whole knee is kind of locked up from it but we’ll see where it goes,” Bogut said at shootaround.

He will get treatment back at the hotel and try and warm up before the game. He wants to play but also understands that he needs to be smart and not push too hard and do more damage. He called himself 50/50 for the game.

The Bucks are also missing John Salmons (hip) and Drew Gooden (plantar fasciitis) and of course Michael Redd is still out and is unlikely to play at all this season.

Needless to say, Alvin Gentry isn’t taking anything for granted. The Suns have had their fill with the Portland Trail Blazers coming to town with a banged up roster and still winning games and the Bucks have a similar personality.

“I just think this team (the Bucks) is a grind it out team. (Head Coach Scott Skiles) personality is the way he played when he was in the league. They’re not a very high-scoring team averaging 91 points a game. They’re not a great shooting team, field goal percentage-wise, but they’re always in the game because they just lock in and they just guard and they play the whole 48 minutes,” Gentry said.

Gortat vs. Bogut

If Bogut plays and can play well, he will be a real test for Marcin Gortat. Bogut had 31 points and 18 rebounds against the Magic in game the Gortat started in place of Dwight Howard (flu). 

“I took a lot of crap from a lot of people for that and I just didn’t deserve that. It was one of these wakeup calls where you feel good about yourself and all of a sudden you’re going down really quick and you’re waking up and you just got to do better than that. That’s what I’m going to try and do today,” Gortat said.

“Everybody’s getting tuned up every night. In some team somebody is scoring and on other team somebody is getting tuned up. Obviously, you don’t want to be tuned up but that’s just how it is. It’s just part of the game.”

Bogut had a similar feeling about the previous match up, saying, ”It’s just one of those games in the NBA, it happens to everybody…That was his first game he’d played 30 or 40 minutes and I just caught him on a good night.”

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

Bonus Quote

“I really don’t care. He can play, he can not play. It’s not like Andrew Bogut is not going to be in the league anymore. Sooner or later I am going to meet him. I just hope he’s healthy. He’s a great guy, I know him personally and he didn’t deserve to sit for so long and be out of the basketball for so long.

He had a terrible, terrible injury and nobody wants to have an injury like that. I just wish him he’s going to be healthy and I just wish him to play well and perform well. If he’s going to play today that’s fine. If not, that’s fine too. I don’t really care. I just want to win the game,” Gortat said.

Published: Monday, January 31, 2011, 3:15 PM     Updated: Monday, January 31, 2011, 3:17 PM

Stats that stand out from the New Orleans Hornets’ 104-102 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Sunday night.

1. 25 and 11. The points and rebounds by Phoenix’s reserve center, Marcin Gortat. The 25 points is a career high and he scored 21 of those points in the second half, most on pick-and-roll plays that the Hornets showed no signs of stopping.
2. 16:29. Amount of minutes played by Hornets center Emeka Okafor, who left in the first half with a hip injury. No word yet on the seriousness of the injury.
3. 13:35. Minutes played by Hornets shooting guard Marco Belinelli. He didn’t get hurt it just appears that he’s getting less and less playing time from Coach Monty Williams. He was 1 of 4 shooting for two points. He hasn’t played more than 25 minutes since Jan. 9.
4. 26-12-0. Number of points, assists and turnovers from Hornets point guard Chris Paul. That 12-0 assist-to-turnover ratio is astounding.
5. 10-10-4. Number of points, rebounds and assists from Hornets reserve shooting guard Marcus Thornton. Even though his shooting was off (3 of 11) Thornton was active, especially on the boards.
6. 2. Length of the Hornets’ losing streak.

+/- rating for every Hornet player
Ariza -6
West -14
Okafor -2
Belinelli -11
Paul -7
Green +17
Smith -3
Thornton +4
Jack +3
Pondexter -5
Mbenga +2
Andersen +12

FIRST QUARTER BREAKDOWN
Quarter score: Suns 27, Hornets 25
Hornets points in the paint: 16
Suns points in the paint: 14
Hornets second chance points: six
Suns second chance points: eight
Hornets fast-break points: two
Suns fast-break points: two
Hornets biggest lead: two points
Suns biggest lead: nine points
Times tied: two
Hornets leading scorer: Trevor Ariza, seven points
Suns leading scorer: Vince Carter, nine points

SECOND QUARTER BREAKDOWN
Quarter score: Hornets 28, Suns 26
Hornets points in the paint: 14
Suns points in the paint: eight
Hornets second chance points: two
Suns second chance points: 0
Hornets fast-break points: 0
Suns fast-break points: two
Hornets biggest lead: 10 points
Suns biggest lead: four points
Times tied: two
Hornets leading scorer: Marcus Thornton, eight points
Suns leading scorer: Grant Hill, Channing Frye, five points each

THIRD QUARTER BREAKDOWN
Quarter score: Suns 35, Hornets 27
Hornets points in the paint: eight
Suns points in the paint: eight
Hornets second chance points: four
Suns second chance points: 0
Hornets fast-break points: two
Suns fast-break points: four
Hornets biggest lead: 0
Suns biggest lead: 10 points
Times tied: three
Hornets leading scorer: Ariza, nine points
Suns leading scorer: Marcin Gortat, 11 points

FOURTH QUARTER BREAKDOWN
Quarter score: Hornets 22, Suns 16
Hornets points in the paint: four
Suns points in the paint: eight
Hornets second chance points: five
Suns second chance points: two
Hornets fast-break points: two
Suns fast-break points: two
Hornets biggest lead: never led
Suns biggest lead: 12 points
Times tied: 0
Hornets leading scorer: David West, Chris Paul, eight points each
Suns leading scorer: Gortat, 10 points

PHOENIX — Backup center Marcin Gortat scored a career-high 25 points and the Phoenix Suns beat a team with a winning record for the fourth straight time, surviving the New Orleans Hornets’ frantic late rally for a 104-102 victory Sunday night.

The Suns nearly blew an eight-point lead in the final 18 seconds, but Grant Hill blocked Marcus Thornton’s inside attempt with 3.9 seconds left and Hornets guard Chris Paul’s desperation 3-point attempt missed the rim as time expired.

The Phoenix Suns hold on in a thrilling 104-102 victory over the New Orleans Hornets.

Paul led New Orleans with 26 points. The Hornets were coming off a loss Saturday night in Sacramento that snapped their winning streak at 10.

Paul made a 3-pointer with 17.2 seconds left to cut it to 104-99, Trevor Ariza then stole Hill’s errant pass and Paul made three free throws with 12 seconds left after he was fouled by Channing Frye.

The Hornets got the ball back with 10 seconds left when Steve Nash stepped out of bounds trying to control Hill’s wild inbounds pass.

Gortat was 9 of 10 from the field and had 11 rebounds in 23 minutes. Hill added 16 points, and Frye had 11, hitting three of the Suns’ nine 3-pointers.

The Hornets lost center Emeka Okafor, their leading rebounder, to a muscle strain just before halftime. Okafor was doubled over in pain after losing the ball out of bounds with close to 2 minutes left in the second quarter, and appeared to be holding his left hip. He didn’t return.

Without Okafor, who left the game with seven rebounds, all offensive, the Hornets struggled with interior defense. Gortat got free and hauled in two long passes from guard Zabian Dowdell for dunks, including a no-look assist from above the 3-point line with 9:30 left in the game that the Suns a 92-84 lead.

The Suns scored 35 third-quarter points to turn a 53-53 halftime tie into an 88-80 lead. The lead ballooned to 12, at 100-88, when Nash found Gortat for a dunk with 5:03 to play.

David West added 17 points for the Hornets.

— The Associated Press

PHOENIX — Instead of savoring backup center Marcin Gortat’s career-high 25 points, the Phoenix Suns were left wondering how they nearly blew an eight-point lead in the final 18 seconds.

The New Orleans Hornets were wondering what the officials were looking at in the wild final sequence in the Suns’ 104-102 victory Sunday night.

Grant Hill blocked Marcus Thornton’s inside attempt with 3.9 seconds left, escaping a goaltending call, and Chris Paul’s desperation 3-point attempt — after contact with two Suns — missed the rim as time expired.

“Obviously, I wish we could have closed the game out in the end,” Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. “They made a couple of shots and we fouled them on a 3-point shot. That got the game close. … It was a great win against a really good basketball team.”

Paul led New Orleans with 26 points. The Hornets were coming off a loss Saturday night in Sacramento that snapped their winning streak at 10.

Paul made a 3-pointer with 17.2 seconds left to cut it to 104-99, Trevor Ariza then stole Hill’s errant pass and Paul made three free throws with 12 seconds left after he was fouled by Channing Frye.

The Hornets got the ball back with 10 seconds left when Steve Nash stepped out of bounds trying to control Hill’s wild inbounds pass.

New Orleans wanted a goaltending call on Thornton’s late try.

“I guess it’s a hard call when the ball hits the backboard and then gets blocked,” Paul said. “We made it too hard on the guys who had to make a tough call at the end.”

Hornets coach Monty Williams agreed.

“When I came back and looked at the film, the film doesn’t lie and it was obvious that it was goaltending,” he said.

Gortat was 9 for 10 from the field and had 11 rebounds in 23 minutes, becoming the first Phoenix reserve since Tony Delk in 2001 to have at least 25 points and 11 rebounds. Hill added 16 points, and Frye had 11, hitting three of the Suns’ nine 3-pointers.

“After the first half I had three fouls and a lot of frustration and anger for a lot of different people on the court,” Gortat said. “I’m just proud of myself, I handled that situation pretty well.

“I was actually joking around and I said to one of my teammates, ‘I just need one quarter, there’s nothing to worry about … and I’ll be fine.”

Gortat scored all of his points in the second half.

The Hornets lost center Emeka Okafor, their leading rebounder, to a muscle strain just before halftime. Okafor was doubled over in pain after losing the ball out of bounds with close to two minutes left in the second quarter, and appeared to be holding his left hip. He didn’t return.

Without Okafor, who left the game with seven rebounds, all offensive, the Hornets struggled with interior defense. Gortat got free and hauled in two long passes from guard Zabian Dowdell for dunks, including a no-look assist from above the 3-point line with 9:30 left in the game that gave the Suns a 92-84 lead.

The Suns scored 35 third-quarter points to turn a 53-53 halftime tie into an 88-80 lead. The lead ballooned to 12, at 100-88, when Nash found Gortat for a dunk with 5:03 to play.

Nash had 15 assists and 10 points for his 26th double-double of the season, which leads all NBA guards.

David West added 17 points for the Hornets.

Notes

• Suns guard Goran Dragic didn’t play after stepping on glass at his home Saturday and receiving nine stitches in his left foot. Dragic, the Suns’ backup point guard, is expected to miss the next few games but is officially listed as day-to-day.
• The Suns finished January with an 8-7 record, the team’s first winning month of the season.

Jan, 29, 2011 – Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets shoots against the Kings in Sacramento, Calif.

More on this topic

Up next: Hornets at Suns

When: 6 p.m.
Where: US Airways Center, Phoenix
TV: FSAZ | Radio: KTAR 620 AM

Hornets update: New Orleans is coming off a game Saturday night at Sacramento. It had a 10-game win streak entering the game and has been the West’s biggest surprise despite having stars Chris Paul and David West. New Orleans became the NBA’s top-scoring defense after Phoenix knocked Boston down a peg Friday. New Orleans was holding opponents to 43.9 percent shooting, fourth-best in the NBA, for new coach Monty Williams.

Suns 88, Celtics 71 | Box score | Schedule

More Suns with Paul Coro

The New Orleans Hornets hope to bounce back from their first loss in three weeks when they finish up a three-game road trip in the desert against the Phoenix Suns.

(Sports Network) – The New Orleans Hornets hope to bounce back from their first loss in three weeks when they finish up a three-game road trip in the desert against the Phoenix Suns.

The Hornets tasted defeat for the first time in 11 games Saturday in Sacramento when emerging rookie DeMarcus Cousins filled the stat sheet with 25 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists, as the Kings beat New Orleans, 102-96.

David West had 21 points for the Hornets, who shot just 43.2 percent from the field. All-Star Chris Paul contributed 19 points and seven assists for the visitors, who never led and failed in their attempt to set a franchise record with an 11th consecutive victory.

Marcus Thornton had 16 points, Emeka Okafor 15 and Trevor Ariza 12 for New Orleans.

“I just thought we had this mindset that we were just going to win 11 (consecutive) by showing up,” Hornets coach Monty Williams told the team’s website. “When you win this many games you have a target on your back. We’ve just got to turn the page, but not without learning some of these lessons.”

Despite the loss, the Hornets, who are 12-3 in January, still have a chance to set the franchise record for most wins in a month with a win tonight.

The Suns, meanwhile, improved to 1-1 on a five-game homestand Friday when Marcin Gortat recorded a career-high 19 points and grabbed 17 rebounds off the bench, leading Phoenix to an 88-71 victory Friday over the Boston Celtics.

Vince Carter scored 17 points and Steve Nash finished with 13 points and 10 assists for the Suns, who snapped a three-game losing streak. Robin Lopez and Mickael Pietrus added 11 points apiece in the win.

“Obviously it was a much needed win for us,” said Suns head coach Alvin Gentry. “I thought we did a good job of competing and playing hard. I thought our defense was really good.”

This is the first meeting between the two clubs this year. Phoenix won three of four over the Hornets last season.

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