The Phoenix Suns got the best medicine in the world this past weekend to help treat their bruised and battered egos: A pair of much-needed wins over two hapless Pacific Division opponents.
In fact, Planet Orange not only beat the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers, they destroyed 'em for almost the entire game. Both contests were virtually identical, as the Suns soundly thrased both opponents and finished with a 10-point gaps (or close to it) on the scoreboard.
The games also featured pimp performances by Steve Nash, as the point guard as the hero in both Friday night's 108-97 manhandling of Golden State at US Airways Center and Sunday's 108-99 annihilation of the Clippers at Staples Center in El Lay.
All concerns about his recent "pelvic instability" were nullified as the point guard played like the Nash of old during both games, scoring 23 points and 17 points respectively.
In addition to leading the stats in scoring, Nash also came through with double-figure assists in either game and also drained a trio of three-pointers on Sunday afternoon. He wasn't the only recently injured Phoenix player who staged a comeback, as Channing Frye provided 19 points off the bench.
The pair of wins provided the Suns with some needed momentum in their quest to secure the eighth seed in the rapidly approaching Western Conference playoffs. Phoenix (35-33) is currently in tenth place, exactly two and a half games behind the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies (the latter of which is in firm control of the last postseason berth in the west). With only 14 games left to play in the season, the Suns had better get moving if they hope to close the gap.
Unlike the Warriors and Clippers, Phoenix's next opponents certainly aren't gonna make things easy. Kobe Bryant and the rest of the Los Angeles Lakers (50-20) will welcome the Suns to the Staples Center on Tuesday night for the final matchup of the season between the two teams. Let's hope that Planet Orange can pull off the impossible and escape from L.A. with a win over the defending champions. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. TV: TNT. Radio: KTAR 620-AM. For more info, visit www.suns.com.
