Steve Nash fared far better during Thursday night's game then he did in his five minutes of meager court time in last weekend's All-Star Game. The 38-year-old Suns captain (who's reportedly being sought by the Dallas Mavericks and two other teams per the latest trade scuttlebutt) earned a double-double with 13 points and 17 assists, coming within two rebounds from making it a triple-double.
Grant Hill led his team in scoring with 20 points, 15 of which came in the fourth period when Phoenix pulled away from Minnesota after three quarters of back-and-fourth basketball.
The T-Wolves led by one at the end of the first period and by four going into halftime, but seemed to peter out scoring-wise in the remaining quarters. Overall, the Suns landed 53 percent of their baskets versus 39 percent shooting for Minnesota, who were particularly horrible from three-point range last night (making only one trey out of 13 attempts.
Nash and Hill were two of the six Suns stars who racked up double-digit scoring, including starters Channing Frye, Marcin Gortat, and Jared Dudley. Bench players Shannon Brown also had 12 points as he subbed for Michael Redd in the hopes of matching up better with the younger and quicker T-Wolves.
Good call, Alvin Gentry. Better hope you just as savvy against the Los Angeles Clippers (21-12) when they visit US Airways Center tonight. Otherwise, another scoring blowout will take place, albeit with Phoenix on the receiving end. Despite having lost three of their last five games, the Pacific Division-leading Clips are a monster this season with Blake Griffin and Chris Paul leading the team and will probably eat the Suns alive. Tip-off is at 8:30 p.m. TV: Fox Sports Arizona/ESPN. Radio: KTAR 620-AM. For tickets and more info, visit www.suns.com.
