The Phoenix Suns launched a six-game road trip with games Friday and Sunday and came away winners in both, upping their record to three games over .500 for the first time this season. Regarding the Western Conference playoff race, even though the Suns are still outside looking in, they have now won six of their past nine games and find themselves one game behind the Memphis Grizzlies and .5 games behind the Utah Jazz, with 25 games to play.
On Sunday against the Indiana Pacers, Grant Hill scored a season-high 34 points and Channing Frye hit a buzzer-beater in overtime to give the Suns a 110-108 win. Frye's winning shot moments after he'd committed a key foul that let the Pacers tie the score late in overtime. After the game, Steve Nash said, "Channing made a big shot to erase all ills."
Frye finished the game with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Also, Marcin Gortat scored 17 and pulled down 11 rebounds, and Jared Dudley scored 15. Nash added 10 points and handed out 13 assists. The game was also notable as the Suns debut of Aaron Brooks, acquired in a trade last week for fan favorite Goran Dragic. Brooks entered the game late and scored three points in 10 minutes.
On Friday, the Suns had little trouble knocking off the woeful Toronto Raptors 110-92. Gortat and Vince Carter each 17 points in the effort. Gortat also had 11 rebounds in the Suns' 13th straight win over Toronto.
Tonight, the Suns travel to New Jersey to face the lowly Nets and their newly acquired star, Deron Williams, who came over last week from the the Jazz. Tip-off is 5 p.m. TV: My45. Radio: KTAR 620 AM. More info: www.suns.com.
