SwingMan
12-05-2007, 02:05 AM
Suns finish strong against Pacers (http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/1204sunsonline1205.html)
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/pics/1204sunslive.jpg
Suns center Amaré Stoudemire pumps his fist after hitting a basket late in the fourth quarter against the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis on Tuesday. The Suns defeated the Pacers 121-117.
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 4, 2007 10:50 PM
INDIANAPOLIS - Only a team that has led the NBA in scoring for three seasons can go into a halftime locker room with players' heads bowed, bracing themselves for a tongue-lashing after scoring 69 points.
Only a team that has 177 wins in the past three seasons can have a postgame locker room as quiet as the snowfall outside Tuesday night after it had just rallied with an 8-0 finish in the final 71 seconds, lifting the Suns past the Pacers 121-117.
"We had a game that we could've possibly put to rest almost at halftime, and all of a sudden we're losing by four or five there at the end," Suns guard Steve Nash said. "It's just a relief that we made the plays down the stretch and got the stops when it counted - but not a gratifying win."
These are the Suns that fans know and love. They are able to thrill and kill in the same breath. They built repeated big leads carefully Tuesday, only to watch them fall in a hurry like dominoes.
The only steady things about the Suns were Amaré Stoudemire's scoring and Nash's playmaking. Stoudemire set season highs for points (42) and assists (four) and tied a season best for rebounds (13), and Nash delivered a season-best 17 assists on a night that the Suns assisted 38 of their 45 baskets.
The pair scored the Suns' final 10 points, overcoming a 117-113 Indiana lead with 1:15 to go with key baskets and by finally bringing defensive intensity for five consecutive stops, including two Indiana air balls.
Nash gave the Suns a 118-117 lead with a transition three-pointer with 41.6 seconds to go. With the same lead and the shot clock winding down, Nash found Stoudemire for a jump shot that kissed the front rim and fell in for a 120-117 lead with 6.5 seconds to go.
"It's called a shooter's touch," Stoudemire said.
Stoudemire had plenty of energy Tuesday night, driving hard to the basket and rising high to finish or rebound. Pacers center Jermaine O'Neal gave it right back to him at the other end, scoring 30 points, but Stoudemire's mix of power inside and precision outside never left. He made 15 of 24 shots and made 12 of 13 free throws.
"The team did a great job of playing Phoenix Suns basketball," Stoudemire said. "Any given night, players are allowed to go off. Tonight was my night.
"Sometimes, we're a little too confident because teams fight back, and we know that we can get the win. . . . We've got to find that killer instinct. We've got a nice group of guys, but sometimes we've got to get hard-core."
Phoenix's lead went from 66-51 to 69-64 in the first half's final 2:58. In the third quarter, the Suns opened the lead to 12, and it was cut to six. It returned to 12 but fell to two after Nash took a knee to his thigh and left the game. He returned and played the final 14 minutes.
It was 98-90 a few seconds into the fourth quarter, but then the Pacers took control and led for most of the final nine minutes.
"We just weren't really sharp all game," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said.
The danger grew when Stoudemire drew a fifth foul with 6:14 to go, the Suns trailing 104-103 and O'Neal playing well.
The Suns sent double teams at O'Neal, who did not score in the final five minutes.
Report
Cheers
Being assessed five fouls for the sixth time in the past 10 games might sound like a reason to jeer Amaré Stoudemire, but he is cheered for avoiding his first disqualification in the final 6 minutes, 14 seconds.
Jeers
To Boris Diaw's third consecutive game of minimal impact.
Player of the game
Stoudemire had season highs in points (42), rebounds (13, tie) and assists (four).
View from press row
Indianans are losing their religion. If you don't understand how much the game is worshipped here, note that the Pacers' introduction video shows them playing in a church with a choir singing. But the locals might be staying away because of some recent off-court incidents. For the Suns' only visit this season, the announced crowd was 11,435. It's sad to see a great building like Conseco Fieldhouse feel so dead.
- Paul Coro
Wednesday's game
Suns at Raptors
When: 5 p.m.
Where: Air Canada Centre, Toronto.
TV/radio: My 45/KTAR-AM (620).
Toronto update: The Raptors (10-8) were off Tuesday after Monday's 98-79 home victory against Charlotte. Chris Bosh (groin strain), Andrea Bargnani (left knee hyperextension) and T.J. Ford (thumb strain) did not play Monday. Bosh has been out three games. The Raptors are 0-6 against Phoenix since Steve Nash joined the Suns.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/pics/1204sunslive.jpg
Suns center Amaré Stoudemire pumps his fist after hitting a basket late in the fourth quarter against the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis on Tuesday. The Suns defeated the Pacers 121-117.
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 4, 2007 10:50 PM
INDIANAPOLIS - Only a team that has led the NBA in scoring for three seasons can go into a halftime locker room with players' heads bowed, bracing themselves for a tongue-lashing after scoring 69 points.
Only a team that has 177 wins in the past three seasons can have a postgame locker room as quiet as the snowfall outside Tuesday night after it had just rallied with an 8-0 finish in the final 71 seconds, lifting the Suns past the Pacers 121-117.
"We had a game that we could've possibly put to rest almost at halftime, and all of a sudden we're losing by four or five there at the end," Suns guard Steve Nash said. "It's just a relief that we made the plays down the stretch and got the stops when it counted - but not a gratifying win."
These are the Suns that fans know and love. They are able to thrill and kill in the same breath. They built repeated big leads carefully Tuesday, only to watch them fall in a hurry like dominoes.
The only steady things about the Suns were Amaré Stoudemire's scoring and Nash's playmaking. Stoudemire set season highs for points (42) and assists (four) and tied a season best for rebounds (13), and Nash delivered a season-best 17 assists on a night that the Suns assisted 38 of their 45 baskets.
The pair scored the Suns' final 10 points, overcoming a 117-113 Indiana lead with 1:15 to go with key baskets and by finally bringing defensive intensity for five consecutive stops, including two Indiana air balls.
Nash gave the Suns a 118-117 lead with a transition three-pointer with 41.6 seconds to go. With the same lead and the shot clock winding down, Nash found Stoudemire for a jump shot that kissed the front rim and fell in for a 120-117 lead with 6.5 seconds to go.
"It's called a shooter's touch," Stoudemire said.
Stoudemire had plenty of energy Tuesday night, driving hard to the basket and rising high to finish or rebound. Pacers center Jermaine O'Neal gave it right back to him at the other end, scoring 30 points, but Stoudemire's mix of power inside and precision outside never left. He made 15 of 24 shots and made 12 of 13 free throws.
"The team did a great job of playing Phoenix Suns basketball," Stoudemire said. "Any given night, players are allowed to go off. Tonight was my night.
"Sometimes, we're a little too confident because teams fight back, and we know that we can get the win. . . . We've got to find that killer instinct. We've got a nice group of guys, but sometimes we've got to get hard-core."
Phoenix's lead went from 66-51 to 69-64 in the first half's final 2:58. In the third quarter, the Suns opened the lead to 12, and it was cut to six. It returned to 12 but fell to two after Nash took a knee to his thigh and left the game. He returned and played the final 14 minutes.
It was 98-90 a few seconds into the fourth quarter, but then the Pacers took control and led for most of the final nine minutes.
"We just weren't really sharp all game," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said.
The danger grew when Stoudemire drew a fifth foul with 6:14 to go, the Suns trailing 104-103 and O'Neal playing well.
The Suns sent double teams at O'Neal, who did not score in the final five minutes.
Report
Cheers
Being assessed five fouls for the sixth time in the past 10 games might sound like a reason to jeer Amaré Stoudemire, but he is cheered for avoiding his first disqualification in the final 6 minutes, 14 seconds.
Jeers
To Boris Diaw's third consecutive game of minimal impact.
Player of the game
Stoudemire had season highs in points (42), rebounds (13, tie) and assists (four).
View from press row
Indianans are losing their religion. If you don't understand how much the game is worshipped here, note that the Pacers' introduction video shows them playing in a church with a choir singing. But the locals might be staying away because of some recent off-court incidents. For the Suns' only visit this season, the announced crowd was 11,435. It's sad to see a great building like Conseco Fieldhouse feel so dead.
- Paul Coro
Wednesday's game
Suns at Raptors
When: 5 p.m.
Where: Air Canada Centre, Toronto.
TV/radio: My 45/KTAR-AM (620).
Toronto update: The Raptors (10-8) were off Tuesday after Monday's 98-79 home victory against Charlotte. Chris Bosh (groin strain), Andrea Bargnani (left knee hyperextension) and T.J. Ford (thumb strain) did not play Monday. Bosh has been out three games. The Raptors are 0-6 against Phoenix since Steve Nash joined the Suns.