Nash, Thomas help Suns top Nets 92-81 (AP) Updated: 2005-11-26 15:12
Steve Nash scored 25 points and Kurt Thomas had a season-high 18 rebounds,
helping the Phoenix Suns beat New Jersey 92-81 Friday night for their 12th
straight victory over the Nets at America West Arena.
Phoenix Suns guard
Steve Nash, right, of Canada, makes a fall-away jump shot over New Jersey
Nets forward Richard Jefferson, left, for two of Nash's 11 first-half
points in the second quarter Friday, Nov. 25, 2005, in
Phoenix.[AP] |
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The Suns' third straight win and fourth in five games boosted them two games
over .500 (7-5) for the first time this season. It also was their third
consecutive win at home after a 1-4 start.
The Nets, in the midst of a five-game road trip, dropped their third in a row
and fell to 5-7.
New Jersey's point total was the lowest allowed by the Suns this season and
the fifth straight game Phoenix held an opponent under 100 points.
Raja Bell added 13 points for Phoenix, Shawn Marion had 12 and James Jones
and Boris Diaw each scored 10. Diaw also finished with nine assists and seven
rebounds.
Jason Kidd led the Nets with 25 points, Vince Carter scored 23 and Richard
Jefferson had 16.
The Suns, exhibiting the tough, resilient defense they have displayed
recently, held the Nets to five field goals in 21 attempts in the second period
in building a 20-point and held a 44-30 advantage at halftime.
During one span bridging the first and second quarters, the Nets went 6:35
without a basket and 5:44 without a point, and Phoenix outscored them 22-6.
Only Carter, Jefferson and Kidd had any success against Phoenix's tight
man-to-man defense, combining for all but two of the Nets' points in the first
half.
Meanwhile, Nash had 11 points at the break, but instead of being the
orchestrator of the Suns' offense, as he usually is, it was the 6-foot-8 Diaw.
Playing the center position, the versatile Diaw had six assists, along with four
rebounds. His replacement, Thomas, contributed nine rebounds.
For the half, the disorganized Nets shot 29 percent (12-for-41). Phoenix was
19-for-44 (43 percent), including five 3-pointers.
The Nets found their shooting touch in the third period, hitting 13 of 19
shots to get within 70-64, the closest they had been since late in the first
quarter. Their 34 points in the period were four more than they scored in the
entire first half.
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