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Suns win in Oklahoma City, but lose Steve Nash
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Shaquille O'Neal led the way for the Suns Monday night with 28
points and 12 rebounds in a 110-102 victory. (AP Photo: Sue
Ogrocki)
The Phoenix Suns bounced back from their disappointing loss to the Spurs on Christmas Day with a 110-102 road win over the Oklahoma City Thunder Monday night.
Steve Nash, however, left the game in the first quarter due to back spasms. He went scoreless in the nine minutes he played, and then Leandro Barbosa took the reigns from there. Barbosa scored 10 points with five rebounds, but most impressively, swiped six steals from the Thunder.
No official status has been released on Nash's back, or of his availability Tuesday at Memphis.
Shaquille O’Neal dominated the paint with 28 points and 12 rebounds, making Oklahoma City starting center Robert Swift wish he’d never suited up to face the Big Diesel. O’Neal also made 8 of 12 from the free throw line.
Jason Richardson, who chipped in 20 points, continues to earn his way into the Suns fan’s heart as he again showed why he’s one of the more electrifying players in the league. On a breakaway in the third quarter, he threw down a 360-degree tomahawk slam, reminding those who may have forgot he’s a two-time NBA slam dunk champion (‘02 & ’03), and educating those that might not have known to begin with.
Along with Nash’s early exit, another sour point of the contest was Amar’e Stoudemire’s foul trouble, and eventual foul out, as well as his absence on the boards. Although he played a season-low 23 minutes, STAT pulled down just one rebound, ending an eight-game streak in which he had eight or more rebounds per game. It’s also his lowest total of the season.
The Thunder started out hot, making eight of their first nine shots, and led by as many as 10 in the first quarter (23-13). The Suns, however, pulled back within three, and Matt Barnes tied the game 34-34 with a three-pointer to end the first quarter.
Rookie Russell Westbrook scored a career-high 31 points on 12 for 16 shooting for Oklahoma City, and Jeff Green added 22 along with 11 rebounds. Thunder’s star forward Kevin Durant had an off night shooting, making just 5 of his 17 attempts, but still finished with 18 points courtesy of his eight free throws.
Recently acquired point guard Dee Brown made his first appearance with the team after Nash left the game, and logged his first points as a Sun with a three-pointer in the fourth quarter. Those were his only points of the game, but he did get 13 minutes on the court. Brown was signed on Christmas Eve by the Suns who had to fill a roster spot to meet the league’s 13-player minimum.
It's the Suns' second win in Oklahoma City this season, but both were tough to earn despite the Thunder having the league's worst record (3-29). The win snapped Phoenix’s four-game losing streak on the road, and they’ll look to build off that as they take on the Grizzlies in Memphis Tuesday night for their eighth back-to-back of the season. The Suns won their first meeting at home back on November 10th, 107-102.
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