The Phoenix Suns (28-26) jumped ahead of the Utah Jazz in the race for a spot in the 2012 NBA Playoffs. Having played the night before, the Suns were the tired team, but that didn't show in their high energy play as they beat the rested Jazz on the road to take over ninth place in the Western Conference. It wasn't easy but it certainly was thrilling, as the team from Phoenix showed a lot of heart and late-game poise to get the win.
And Steve Nash went retro with two clutch buckets in the final minute of the game.
The game was back and forth through the first three quarters with the Suns building small leads only to give them back to Utah.
In the fourth quarter, the Suns bench came up huge. Taking up the load for their tired team, Michael Redd and Sebastian Telfair led the way to a 14-5 run to give the Suns a 10-point lead.
But with the starters back on the floor, the Jazz cut the lead to two with a 7-0 run of their own. With just over a minute left in the game, when Channing Frye threw up a prayer with the clock running down and drained three. The Jazz came back and scored and then Paul Millsap stole the ball from Nash and was fouled.
After an Al Jefferson game-tying shot, Nash hit a dagger of his own to retake the lead only to see Millsap drive and dish to Jefferson for another bucket to level the game.
The two-time MVP, perhaps tired of hearing about his old age and bad back, hit a second clutch shot on a leaner in the lane with 1.7 left. The Jazz came just a hair's breadth away from another tie on a put-back of a missed three, but the replay showed the clock had expired before the ball left Millsap's hands.
What a finish. What a game.
The Suns got balanced scoring with nine or the ten players who player recording at least seven points. Redd led the team with 19 in just 22 minutes on 8-17 shooting.
The Suns get a needed day off before heading to Denver to face the Nuggets who they are also chasing for a playoff spot.
For the latest AZ sports, follow us on Twitter @SBNArizona and "Like" us on Facebook.