Jazz send Suns to third straight home loss, 126-118
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) The Jazz came back from a 94-85 deficit at the end of the third quarter to beat the Suns, 126-118 at US Airways Center.
Utah, despite playing without Kirilenko, shot 57 percent from the field thanks to its great half-court offense and with a “little help” from the awful Suns defense. The Jazz shot 14-of-16 in the fourth quarter alone.
The Suns tied the game at 114 with less then 3 minutes to go but failed to score on a few occasions and Utah took the lead for good.
Amare Stoudemire scored 37 points (13-of-18 from the field), Raja Bell scored 19 points while Nash added 17 points and 15 assists. Shaq scored 20 points which represent his highest total as a Sun.
Deron Williams scored 25 points in leading the Jazz to victory as both his pick-and-roll mates had very impressive games as well; Okur scored 25 points (with 15 rebounds) and Boozer 23.
I was a bit surprised to read, from the well informed Paul Coro in the Republic game recap, that the Suns have allowed almost 123 points a game since Shaq joined the Phoenix lineup.
Scary isn’t it? The Suns record is 3-6 in the Diesel-powered version. Still Coach D’Antoni believes the Suns are better with Shaq in the lineup. Will be probably, not sure they’re right now.
Another game against a playoffs bound Western Conference team, another loss. Watching the fourth quarter you had the feeling that the Suns had really no chance to stop the Jazz for real as STAT clearly indicated after the game: “They’re coming in here and getting whatever they want, and we can’t allow that”. Really?
The Suns (40-22) currently on the first three game losing streak of the year, still in 6th place in the Conference standings, will now face the hated Spurs on Sunday lunchtime tip-off (12.30).
Yours truly, a worried Steve Fan
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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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