The Phoenix Suns committed 14 turnovers Saturday in Detroit as they let the Pistons outscore them 28-15 in the fourth quarter and eke out a 75-74 win. All that after notching their fifth win in a row Friday night against the Washington Wizards.
With just over nine minutes left in the fourth quarter on Saturday, the Suns were up 66-51 but somehow let the inferior Pistons go on an 11-2 run. Then, with 53 seconds left, Austin Daye hit a jump shot that put finally put the Pistons in the lead, where they stayed. It was the first time in Suns franchise history that they lost a game in which they allowed fewer than 80 points.
Steve Nash tallied 14 points and six assists, but he also committed five of the Suns' 14 turnovers. Jared Dudley and Marcin Gortat scored 13 and 11 points, respectively, off the bench, but no other Suns managed to score in double figures. The loss left the team with a 20-22 record, in 10th place in the Western Conference playoff race.
On Friday against the Wizards, the Suns were more efficient and shot the ball much better (48 percent from the field). Channing Frye led the team with 25 points (including seven three-pointers), while Nash had 17 points to go along with 14 assists.
Tonight, the Suns will travel to Philadelphia to play another struggling Eastern Conference team, the 76ers. At 18-25, the Sixers are led by Elton Brand, who averages 14.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. Tipoff: 5 p.m. Radio: KTAR 620 AM. TV: No local TV coverage. More info: www.suns.com.
