NBA Northwest Division

TRUMPETING THE SUNS

GO WEST, YOUNG PAY-PER-VIEWERLIVING BACK EAST HAS ITS DRAWBACKS, BUT PAYING TO WATCH YOUR NBA TEAM ON TV ISN'T ONE OF THEM

Pic Hits for the week

Pic Hits for the week

Flashes

Brown Sugar

A high school hoops phenom comes home a pro

Dust Bowl Blues: Phoenix Suns at Oklahoma City Thunder

Recent headline: "Clippers Crush Thunder." Let's hope it's "Suns Burn Thunder" (don't think about that too literally) after tonight's game. But we digress: In what mad otherworld does the NBA's perennial doormat, the L.A. Clippers, crush anybody? Well, on November 19, the mantle of NBA's worst wa ... More >>

Hope for the Phoenix Suns was Reborn Against Portland -- Despite 18 Turn-Overs

It's about the fast-break points, stupid! The Phoenix Suns, though way off last year's pace, had six in their weekend game against the Portland Trail Blazers. We wouldn't say they dominated the Blazers, but they held on to win at home 102-92. In other words, hope was reborn, after the Suns' em ... More >>

Wolf Den: Phoenix Suns at Minnesota Tonight

  Al Jefferson (above dunking) is most decidedly better than nothing. A linchpin of the Minnesota Timberwolves' move-him-or-lose-him trade of All-World Kevin Garnett to the Boston Celtics in the summer of '07, Jefferson came into his own last season, his first as a T-Wolf.  The 6-10 center/forwar ... More >>

Glad Tidings, Our Ass: San Antonio Spurs at Phoenix Suns on Christmas

Anyone else miss the good ol' days, when the Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs were locked in a bitter struggle for ideological supremacy (and home-court advantage in the playoffs)? When the Lakers and Hornets were laughable, and the thought of a return to form for the Boston Celtics was like some ... More >>

Suns Beat Another Terrible Team, but Where's the D, Where's the Rebounding?

Phoenix Suns Coach Terry Porter (pictured) is always stressing defense. But, while he's gotten the team to respond some, he hasn't gotten it to respond much. Look at Thanksgiving Eve's 110-102 road win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.First of all the Timberwolves are a 3-10 team. Their on ... More >>

Go Jazz, er, Suns: Utah Could Hand Phoenix its Fifth Loss in a Row Saturday Night

Utah Jazz star Deron Williams with inestimable Coach Jerry Sloan  Every now and then, out of the blue and against our will (we're a Suns' diehard), we find ourselves rooting for the Utah Jazz. It's always a surprise, 'cause we have no real ties to the place and don't even follo ... More >>

Suns Squeak Out a Win after Losing Four, but Against a Depleted Utah Jazz

Sober up. Carlos Boozer didn't play in the Phoenix Suns' two-point win over the Utah Jazz at US Airways Center. The Utah power forward, who's logged 20 points and almost 12 rebounds a game this season, has missed 11 starts with a quadriceps injury. But there's good news about Saturday nig ... More >>

Glad You're Sitting Down: Shaq Almost Scores His Age, Proving He Can Still Do It -- Against Milwaukee

It was his first 30-point game since March 9, 2007 when he was with the Miami Heat. In fact, 36-year-old Shaquille O'Neal scored 35 points against the Milwaukee Bucks Tuesday night to lead the Suns to a 125-110 victory, the team's largest point total of the year. We'd say t ... More >>

Suns Coach and Ex-Trail Blazer Terry Porter Returns to Portland Tonight

Brandon Roy's scoring 22 points a game for the Blazers Tonight's Phoenix Suns versus Portland Trail Blazers game is not only an important matchup for the team's push toward Western Conference respectability, but it also marks the return of Suns Coach Terry Porter to the city where he starred.

Rocky Mountain High: Denver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns Saturday Night

Ah, chemistry.  In the NBA, acquiring talent and getting your talent to properly combust are the real tricks of the trade. But what looks good on the drawing board -- like, say, the Denver Nuggets' pairing of body-modified human pinball machines Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson (see image be ... More >>

The Good News: The Suns Gelled Against Portland. The Bad News: They Ran into a Cyclone

 The Suns played well in Portland. They actually demonstrated some cohesion. It looked for this game like the running Suns, returned suddenly from the old Mike D'Antoni days, could actually work Shaq into the offense. It wasn't his best night; the big man had 19 points and six reboun ... More >>

Suns Defense Didn't Suck, and Phoenix Won the Turnover War in Victory Over Denver

The Suns have looked good for two games in a row! Unfortunately, they lost the first of these in a heartbreaker against an emerging Portland team. On Saturday night, Phoenix actually won the turnover war (16 to 21) against a good Denver Nuggets team, and therefore the game. Keeping turnov ... More >>

Icing on Cupcake: Phoenix Suns Take on 3-28 Okie Thunder Tonight

Thunder star Kevin Durant after a dunk. What's a surefire cure for depression? For the Phoenix Suns -- losers of a brutally heartbreaking game on Christmas Day to the San Antonio Spurs -- a cupcake; namely, the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Shaq Dominates Again: Suns Beat Fading Atlanta Hawks 103-98

  It was Shaquille O'Neal's night again -- and thank God for it! Without him, the Suns would've lost to the Atlanta Hawks, who led the game at US Airways Center late in the fourth quarter before a Suns spurt. O'Neal had 26 points and 10 rebounds in 40 minutes against the 22 ... More >>

Rocky Mountain High: Suns Face the Surging Nuggets in Denver Tonight

If there's one team that's benefited the most this season from a trade, it's the Denver Nuggets. On November 3, 2008, nine-time NBA All-Star guard Allen Iverson was dealt to the Detroit Pistons for guard Chauncey Billups (pictured), forward Antonio McDyess, and center Cheikh Samb. (McDyess never ... More >>

Wolf Trap: Phoenix Suns vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Here Tonight

A mid-January game against the Minnesota Timberwolves is no big D, right? The playoffs-bound Phoenix Suns will ring up these bottom-feeding fools without stainin' their sweats, yo? Wrong on both counts. And that "playoff-bound" part is dicey, in and of itself. Everyone but the Suns seems to reali ... More >>

Sure, the Suns Were Robbed, but Turnovers are What Really Killed 'Em in Denver

Yeah, it was a terrible call. In the last seconds of regulation against Denver with the score tied 103-103, Grant Hill drove toward the basket and was tripped by Nuggets forward Dahntay Jones. Hill hit the hardwood. Tripped, and no call by head referee Dick Bavetta (pictured, the ref who famously r ... More >>

Weekend Split Against Two Bad Teams: Suns Lose to Minnesota at Home and Beat Toronto on the Road

Remember that February 9 beat-down win over the formidable Dallas Mavericks at US Airways Center? It was easy to believe that the Phoenix Suns had turned it all around after they toppled a top Western Conference opponent by 28 points, to hope (Barack Obama's favorite w ... More >>

Doh!: Resistible Force (Phoenix Suns) Meets Movable Object (Chicago Bulls) on Saturday Night

NBA No. 1 Derrick Rose makes his US Airways debut. From the January 26, 2009, morning paper: "Leading by as many as 16 in the first quarter and shooting 57.6 percent through three quarters, the team collapsed down the stretch by shooting 8-for-29." Sound familiar? The quote isn't about one of t ... More >>

Math Test: Phoenix Suns Face Must-Win Game Against Dallas Mavericks Tonight

www.nba.com Dirk Nowitzki: Could another choke job be forthcoming? By the time a must-win game for the Phoenix Suns rolls around, we're usually breaking out the sunscreen and decorating the Maypole. This year, desperation's come early. In the race for the Western Conference playoffs, the Su ... More >>

Phoenix Suns Finally Beat a Good Team Again in a Nail-biter Monday Night

www.nba.com Grant Hill has another monster game.It was the first time since March 1 that the Suns have beaten a good team. And the Phoenix Suns' 118-115 win over the Denver Nuggets gives them their longest winning streak of the year, 5-0. Unfortunately, they've had a longer losing str ... More >>

Keep the Good Times Rolling: Suns Need to Beat Jazz Tonight at US Airways Center

www.nba.comUtah's Mehmet Okur Hey, Suns fans. Steve Nash and company have you exactly where they want you after its epic 118-115 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Monday night. Only three games behind the Dallas Mavericks, all hopeful and stuff, and ready to Sharpie-in that eighth and final playo ... More >>

Phoenix Suns Gut Out Another Big Win Against a Good Team Wednesday Night to Go 6 in a Row. Next Up: the Trail Blazers Tonight

www.suns.com "Lightening" Lou Amundson gives Phoenix the edge.Deeee-Fence! We never thought we'd be saying this, but the Phoenix Suns won the last two games against tough Western Conference foes with solid D, and now find themselves on a 6-game winning streak. Of course, this ... More >>

Suns Get Blazed in Portland Thursday Night. Up Next: Utah Saturday and Sacramento Sunday.

When you're facing a solid opponent that's the second youngest squad in the league and hasn't played in four days, it's going to be tough to win, especially when you've had to grind out two tough victories in three days while fighting for your playoff lives. That's the best way to sum up the Phoen ... More >>

All-Star Schedule

When you're facing a solid opponent that's the second youngest squad in the league and hasn't played in four days, it's going to be tough to win, especially when you've had to grind out two tough victories in three days while fighting for your playoff lives. That's the best way to sum up the Phoen ... More >>

Steve Kerr's been beating the odds his whole life

When you're facing a solid opponent that's the second youngest squad in the league and hasn't played in four days, it's going to be tough to win, especially when you've had to grind out two tough victories in three days while fighting for your playoff lives. That's the best way to sum up the Phoen ... More >>

Amaré's Burden

The Phoenix Suns superstar has more to worry about than his ailing knees

Hoop Dreams Come True

The Phoenix Suns superstar has more to worry about than his ailing knees

For Those About to Rock . . .

. . . they'd better stretch first

Race Relations

Speed seekers swarm Indy 200

Garage Chic

The Hypno-Twists put a fresh spin on retro-instrumental voodoo with a wicked new CD

Night & Day

February 4 - 10, 1999

Flashes

February 4 - 10, 1999

Hot Links: Shaq Packs, Doc Prescribes, and Cows Burp

ASU basketball player James Harden worked out for the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday. Harden, the PAC-10 Player of the Year, is expected to be among the top five picks in tonight's NBA draft...the Phoenix Suns traded Shaquille O'Neal to the Cleveland Cavaliers the day before the draft. In ... More >>

Suns Open 2009-10 Home Season This Weekend Against Two Cuppy Cakes

www.nba.com Good start, Nash and Co. You should keep it up.​ Expect the Phoenix Suns' fast start to the 2009-10 season to continue this weekend, when they open their home season at US Airways Center against two teams that are seriously in flux. First off is Friday's tussle against the Go ... More >>

Suns Trump Golden State, Minnesota Over the Weekend

Channing Frye was quite deadly from the three-point line in back-to-back Suns victories over the weekend.Channing Frye justified his two-year, $3.8 million contract (and then some) this past weekend. The 6-foot-11 center was a basket-making dynamo who helped the Phoenix Suns thump a pair of hapless ... More >>

Suns Trounce Minnesota Timberwolves, Toronto Raptors Over the Weekend. Up Next: The Ailing New York Knicks on Tuesday

Jason Richardson posted back-to-back 22 point performances this weekend against the Timberwolves and Raptors.​Steve Nash left a rather interesting tweet on his Twitter account over the weekend, and it was directed towards pal and Toronto Raptors star Chris Bosh.It simply stated, "see u above the r ... More >>

Worst Refereeing We've Seen all Season Keeps Suns from Winning Two Weekend Games in Row Against Elite Teams. Next Up: Hated Spurs

wikipedia commons Amar'e Stoudemire was fouled repeatedly by the Nuggets but barely got a call.​The refs and 21 turnovers were the culprits in the Phoenix Suns' 105-99 road loss to the Denver Nuggets, a night after they'd stunned the second-best team in the Eastern Conference, th ... More >>

Local Kid Jerryd Bayless Sticks Dagger in Suns in Tough 105-102 Loss to Blazers; Next Up: the Washington Wizards on Saturday

www.nba.com/blazersJerryd Bayless: The Phoenix native scored 29 against the Suns.​Ouch. This one stings: The Portland Trail Blazers totally dominated the fourth quarter and overcame a 15-point deficit to beat the Phoenix Suns 105-102 Thursday night in Portland. Steve Nash had an opportunity to bri ... More >>

Suns Split Weekend Series at Home Against Bulls and Warriors; Up Next: Utah Jazz Tonight

www.nba.com/sunsGrant Hill: 13 first-half points on Saturday night.​Somehow, some way the Phoenix Suns avoided a total disaster this weekend at US Airways Center. Instead, their two-game series was just a partial disaster. Sure, the team beat the Golden State Warriors, barely, on Saturday night, b ... More >>

Phoenix Suns Fall Flat Against The Utah Jazz After Fourth Quarter Collapse. Next Up: Charlotte Bobcats Tonight

Goran Dragic has put in two of his best games ever this week.​It's a shame that this year's All-Star selection process is over with and done, as Phoenix Suns point guard Goran Dragic has been on fire as of late. After scoring a career-topping 20 points versus the Golden State Warriors over ... More >>

Suns Win Third in Row by Beating New Orleans on Road; Up Next: Denver Nuggets

www.nba.com/suns Amar'e Stoudemire: Slams home another good game. ​For now, at least, Amar'e Stoudemire doesn't look like a defensive liability, and the Phoenix Suns played like they give a damn as they endured the second game of a four-game road swing in New Orleans, posting a 109-100 ... More >>

Phoenix Suns Head to All-Star Break with Loss to Portland Trail Blazers. Next Up: Grizzlies on February 16

nba.com Steve Nash's having a great season at the ripe old age of 35, but his sharpshooting couldn't get his team the W last night.​The beaten-up Portland Trail Blazers played and lost the night before, and were in eighth place in the NBA's Western Conference. Th ... More >>

It's Official: Amar'e Stoudemire Is Staying Put

Amar'e ain't going anywhere.​The NBA trade deadline passed mere moments ago and Amar'e Stoudemire is still a member of the Phoenix Suns. Yeah, we know you've heard rumor after endless rumor this week about how the Phoenix Suns superstar was getting a one-way ticket to either Cleveland or Mi ... More >>