The Phoenix Suns used the weekend to even up their season record at 4-4 with home wins over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday and Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday. The Suns topped 100 points in each contest, with Steve Nash scoring 17 points in Friday's 102-77 nationally televised blowout and Marcin Gortat leading the way with 18 points in Sunday's 109-93 win.
On Friday, the Blazers entered the game with a 5-1 record, the best record in the NBA's Western Conference. But the Suns shut them down, big-time, allowing only 77 points in what might have been a case of early-season fatigue in the strike-shortened season.
"Do I think that we are 25 points better than they are?" Suns coach Alvin Gentry said after the game. "No. But I think that given the opportunity to take advantage of something like this you better do it, and especially at home."
Jared Dudley scored 18 points and Gortat chipped in 12 points to the winning effort.
Sunday's matchup with the Bucks was no more competitive than Friday's game, with Milwaukee losing its 24th straight game at US Airways Center. Only the San Antonio Spurs' 27-game home dominance over the Golden State Warriors is more pronounced than that of the Suns-Bucks.
Through three quarters, the Suns were shooting 62 percent en route to the relatively easy win against the Bucks, who fell to 2-6.
The Suns' next game is Tuesday night in Los Angeles against the Lakers. Tip-off is 8:30 p.m. Radio: KTAR 620 AM. TV: Fox Sports Arizona. More info: www.suns.com.
