Nash takes over in the 4th. Suns beat Heat in Miami
(Photo: Hans Deryk/Associated Press) Steve Nash scored 5 consecutive points (a nice 3-pointer and a left handed lay-up) to give the Suns (4-2) the lead for good 101-98 with 2 minutes to go as Phoenix beat winless Miami 106-101. Nash scored 14 of his 30 points, including 11 straight, in the fourth quarter as he took over the game.
It was a hard fought contest all the way to the end with the Suns starting on a 10-2 run and then Miami came back and scored 37 points in the first quarter alone, the most the Heat have scored in any quarter this season on a combination of good shooting and poor defense by the Suns.
The diesel-powered Miami, still without Wade sporting a nice grey suit behind the bench, even led by ten or more on a couple of occasions as Shaq looked like his younger self for most of the game (25 points on 11-19 from the field, 10 rebounds and 3 blocked shots).
In the second and third quarter the Suns played poorly, especially on offense as they were slow on developing plays with only Barbosa (17 points on the night) actually being aggressive, driving to the basket and getting some open shots.
The Suns did a good job of staying close even after Amaré (3-11 from the field before the double T) got ejected from the game on two technical fouls early in the third quarter. That was the turning point of the game, as Shaq and Zo could have taken advantage from the situation, as Diaw was having a hard time guarding O’Neil, but age possibly took over.
Shawn Marion had a huge game fighting the big fellas in the paint, he got 24 rebounds (including 6 on offense), the most by any Suns this season. The 24 rebounds also ties his career high.
A final negative note on a good night for the Suns, Raja Bell (16 on the night on 4-7 from 3-point) had to leave the game late in the fourth with an ankle injury, hopefully it’s nothing more than a little twist.
Suns complete their Southeast trip tonight in Orlando (5 PM), we’ll see if they have enough energy left to play a 5-1 Magic team younger and better than their South Florida neighbours.
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Posted by Steve Fan
Blogger and Steve Nash enthusiast. Don't get in his way, he'll MVP your ass.
http://sonsofstevenash.blogspot.com
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