SB Nation 2011-12 Phoenix Suns
+1
The Suns win their fourth road game of the season, second in the Big Easy over Hornets 120-103.
The Phoenix Suns (7-13) look for a little redemption on Wednesday night when they enjoy the basketball improvisational styling of the New Orleans Hornets (4-17) who a) would love to have the name "Jazz" back from Utah and b) would love to have Eric Gordon back on the court. Gordon has been out with a knee bruise suffered when he banged knees with Grant Hill on opening night.
The Suns own star guard, Steve Nash, should be freed to play in the Big Easy after missing one game with a thigh bruise. You see, a knee bruise is worse than a thigh bruise. The Suns and Hornets have each won one game in their season series so far.
Here's the latest on Nash who's just seven assists away from Kevin Johnson's franchise record of 6,518.
Phoenix Suns vs. New Orleans Hornets - game chat
"It feels good enough to give it a shot," Nash said. "It hurts but it'll be all right if I get it warmed up and can protect it. I finally got to where I have almost all my range of motion back and my strength. It's good enough."
Projected Lineups:
The Suns game tips off at 6:00 p.m. Arizona time on Fox Sports Arizona. Arizona Sports 620 radio. Bright Side of the Sun will have the live game thread.
For the latest AZ sports, follow us on Twitter @SBNArizona and "Like" us on Facebook
Nash's Offensive Explosion Lead Suns To Victory
The Phoenix Suns might start wishing every NBA road game could be in the Big Easy against the New Orleans after another masterful performance against the Hornets in a 120-103 win Wednesday night.
Steve Nash put on a clinic with 30 points and 10 assists and led four Suns in double figures in points, and above that, established the new franchise record for career assists when he dished out No. 6,519 with 6:30 left in the third quarter, a pass ahead to of all people, Josh Childress for a transition bucket.
Nash surpassed Kevin Johnson for the record, a guy he backed up when Nash first entered the league with the Suns. It was Phoenix's first win over any opponent this season when trailing at halftime, as the Suns were 0-12 on the year under such circumstances.
The win was the second in three games for the Suns (8-13).
Playing without Grant Hill for the second half due to right knee soreness, the Suns nevertheless shot the lights out. They made 52.6 percent of their shots and by far exceeded their highest point total in a game for the season. Marcin Gortat recorded his 12th double-double in the past 13 games with 23 points and 11 rebounds.
The Suns weren't exactly scintillating on defense, but they didn't need to be. The game was very close until near the midway part of the fourth quarter, when the Suns broke it open.
Sebastian Telfair, Ronnie Price and Childress provided some productive minutes off the bench. The Suns survived a 20-point, 12-assist night from the Hornets' Greivis Vasquez and won in New Orleans by a double-digit margin just as they did on Dec. 30.
Feb 01 8:52p by Jose Romero