For the second game in a row, the Phoenix Suns denied Utah its first victory of the post-Jerry Sloan era.

The short-handed Jazz didn't quite have enough to overcome a career shooting night for Channing Frye and a performance by Steve Nash that left him seventh on the NBA's career assists list and 10th in 3-pointers as the Suns won 102-101 on Tuesday.

Frye had a career-high 31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Since he was 7 of 7, five of them 3-pointers, in a 19-point first quarter, coach Alvin Gentry said the Suns should have gone to him more.

"I guess I've got to do the playground thing and tell them when the guy is hot, we need to try and find him," Gentry said.

Frye said assistant coach Igor Kokoskov had emphasized that he needs to do more of what he does best.

"Igor kind of challenged me and said, 'We pay you to make shots,'" Frye said. "I said, 'All right,' so I went out there and just shot."

Al Jefferson scored 32 points and C.J. Miles 19 for the Jazz, who led by eight in the fourth quarter before an 11-0 run put the Suns ahead for good. Utah had not played since losing at home to Phoenix 95-83 on Friday night.

"We played a lot better a lot longer than we did the other night," Corbin said. "The guys will continue to work on the things we've been working in practice the last couple days and we are going to turn the corner. As long as we continue to fight and bring the effort, we'll make shots and we'll get some wins."

Nash had 20 points and 14 assists for Phoenix, winner of seven of its last nine. The Suns' playmaker passed Gary Payton for seventh on the career assists list. With three 3-pointers, Nash tied Eddie Jones for 10th on the career 3 list.

The Jazz, with four players out with injuries, has lost 12 of 16 and fell to 0-2 since Sloan resigned and was replaced by Tyrone Corbin, both losses to the Suns.

For the second game in a row, the Suns led entering the fourth only to have the visitors take command with a big run. Unlike Sunday's loss to Sacramento, Phoenix came back this time.

Associated Press

(China Daily 02/17/2011 page22)