GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: UTAH (13-9) at PHOENIX (16-6)

NBA: UTAH at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NBA UTAH 98
PHOENIX 103 FINAL</div>

 

NBA: UTAH at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
UTAH 22 23 20 33 98
PHOENIX 24 25 18 36 103 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: UTH - CARLOS BOOZER 24, PAUL MILLSAP 20, DERON
WILLIAMS 18
PHO - STEVE NASH 29, SHAWN MARION 26, AMARE
STOUDEMIRE 18</div>

 

By Bob Huhn
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


PHOENIX (Ticker) - In a match up between two teams that combinedhave lost their last six games Steve Nash took control.

Nash scored 29 points and dished out 11 assists to lift thePhoenix Suns to a 103-98 victory over the Utah Jazz onWednesday.


Shawn Marion added 26 points and grabbed 15 rebounds for theSuns who improved to 10-1 against teams with a winning recordwhile snapping a modest two-game losing streak.


Phoenix suffered the two losses to Minnesota and Miami, teamsthat have a combined record of 9-31, after winning fivestraight.


The Suns took an 85-77 lead in the fourth thanks to a 9-2 run.Marion hit a 3-pointer in the spurt and made a layup down thestretch to extinguish any chances the Jazz had at a comeback.

Utah pulled within 94-93 with 2:21 to play before Grant Hill hita driving lay-up to make it 96-93. Deron Williams missed twofree throws with 38 seconds left and Marion scored 23 secondslater to put the game out of reach.


Nash, who had been struggling from the field in the last two<div class="pre">games shooting just 33.3 percent (9-for-27), got his offense</div>going again hitting 10-of-12 shots. The two-time MVP dished out11 assists, snapping his string of seven straight games with 14or more assists.


But you can't fault Nash's performance, especially consideringhe played half the game with a chipped front tooth.

Utah's Carlos Boozer hit Nash with an inadvertent forearm whilebattling for a rebound just before the half. Nash handed thetooth to trainer before going to the locker room at the break andthen continued to hand out assists.


The Suns held a 67-65 lead entering the final stanza. BorisDiaw opened the quarter with a three-point play to extend thelead to 70-65.


Utah fought back tying it at 73-73 before Hill regained the leadfor the Suns on a three-point play giving Phoenix a 76-73advantage at the 9:27 mark.


After Paul Millsap missed two free throws Matt Harping kept theball alive for Utah as Millsap scored on a lay up cutting threemargin to one 76-75. Leandro Barbosa then hit a jumper at 8:36again giving phoenix a three point lead.


Following a Utah turnover Shawn Marion added to the Suns leadwith a 3-point shot form the baseline then a lay up making it83-75 with 7:00 left in the game.


Boozer scored 24 points and had 13 rebounds and Paul Millsapfinished with 20 points and 13 rebounds for Utah, which has lost aseason high five straight.

 

NBA: UTAH at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">UTAH (98) AT PHOENIX (103)

UTAH

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

A KIRILENKO F 38:19 6-13 3-3 0 6 6 3 3 2 1 17
C BOOZER F 40:44 12-24 0-0 4 9 13 2 4 4 4 24
P MILLSAP C 39:47 7-14 6-9 6 7 13 3 4 2 4 20
R BREWER G 24:24 4-6 4-8 1 1 2 0 0 1 0 12
D WILLIAMS G 33:50 7-17 3-5 1 2 3 6 3 1 3 18
M HARPRING 15:14 2-5 0-0 4 1 5 1 1 1 1 4
J HART 22:23 0-5 1-2 1 3 4 1 2 1 0 1
G GIRICEK 8:26 1-3 0-0 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 2
J COLLINS 4:50 0-1 0-0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0
C MILES 5:06 0-1 0-0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
R PRICE 6:57 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
M OKUR DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 39-89 17-27 17 32 49 18 19 12 14 98
(.438) (.630) TEAM REBS: 11 TOTAL TO: 15 (25 PTS)

PHOENIX

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

G HILL F 34:31 4-14 3-3 0 0 0 0 3 0 3 11
S MARION F 38:23 12-19 1-2 5 10 15 1 1 2 1 26
A STOUDEMIRE C 38:55 6-18 6-6 2 7 9 2 4 1 1 18
R BELL G 35:20 1-8 0-0 2 1 3 2 3 1 2 2
S NASH G 36:10 10-12 6-6 2 4 6 11 3 1 6 29
B DIAW 22:17 3-7 2-2 3 3 6 2 3 1 1 8
L BARBOSA 25:53 2-6 1-2 1 1 2 4 1 2 0 5
B SKINNER 8:31 2-3 0-0 0 3 3 0 1 1 1 4
E PIATKOWSKI DNP - COACH'S DECISION
M BANKS DNP - COACH'S DECISION
D STRAWBERRY DNP - COACH'S DECISION
S MARKS DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 40-87 19-21 15 29 44 22 19 9 15 103
(.460) (.905) TEAM REBS: 5 TOTAL TO: 16 (16 PTS)

UTAH 22 23 20 33 - 98
PHOENIX 24 25 18 36 - 103

BLOCKED SHOTS: UTAH - P MILLSAP 2, A KIRILENKO, C BOOZER, D WILLIAMS.
PHOENIX - A STOUDEMIRE 6, S MARION 5, G HILL, B DIAW.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: UTAH 3-7 (.429), A KIRILENKO 2-2, D WILLIAMS 1-
4, C MILES 0-1. PHOENIX 4-17 (.235), G HILL 0-3, S MARION 1-2, R BELL 0-
6, S NASH 3-4, L BARBOSA 0-2.
TECHNICAL FOULS: NONE.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: DERRICK COLLINS, MARK AYOTTE, RON GARRETSON.
A - 18,422. T - 2:25.</div>

 

NBA: UTAH at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">UTAH (98)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
A Kirilenko 38:19 6-13 3-3 0-6 3 3 17
C Boozer 40:44 12-24 0-0 4-13 2 4 24
P Millsap 39:47 7-14 6-9 6-13 3 4 20
R Brewer 24:24 4-6 4-8 1-2 0 0 12
D Williams 33:50 7-17 3-5 1-3 6 3 18
M Harpring 15:14 2-5 0-0 4-5 1 1 4
J Hart 22:23 0-5 1-2 1-4 1 2 1
G Giricek 8:26 1-3 0-0 0-1 2 0 2
J Collins 4:50 0-1 0-0 0-1 0 1 0
C Miles 5:06 0-1 0-0 0-1 0 0 0
R Price 6:57 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 0
M Okur DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 39-89 17-27 17-49 18 19 98
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.438, FT-.630. 3-Point Goals:
3-7, .429 (A Kirilenko 2-2, D Williams 1-4, C
Miles 0-1). Team Rebounds: 11. Blocked
Shots:5 (P Millsap 2, A Kirilenko, C Boozer,
D Williams). Turnovers:14 (C Boozer 4, P
Millsap 4, D Williams 3, M Harpring, A
Kirilenko, R Price). Steals: 12 (C Boozer 4,
A Kirilenko 2, P Millsap 2, M Harpring, R
Brewer, D Williams, J Hart).


PHOENIX (103)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
G Hill 34:31 4-14 3-3 0-0 0 3 11
S Marion 38:23 12-19 1-2 5-15 1 1 26
A Stoudemire 38:55 6-18 6-6 2-9 2 4 18
R Bell 35:20 1-8 0-0 2-3 2 3 2
S Nash 36:10 10-12 6-6 2-6 11 3 29
B Diaw 22:17 3-7 2-2 3-6 2 3 8
L Barbosa 25:53 2-6 1-2 1-2 4 1 5
B Skinner 8:31 2-3 0-0 0-3 0 1 4
E Piatkowski DNP - COACH'S DECISION
M Banks DNP - COACH'S DECISION
D Strawberry DNP - COACH'S DECISION
S Marks DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 40-87 19-21 15-44 22 19 103
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.460, FT-.905. 3-Point Goals:
4-17, .235 (G Hill 0-3, S Marion 1-2, R Bell
0-6, S Nash 3-4, L Barbosa 0-2). Team
Rebounds: 5. Blocked Shots:13 (A Stoudemire
6, S Marion 5, G Hill, B Diaw). Turnovers:15
(S Nash 6, G Hill 3, R Bell 2, B Skinner, S
Marion, B Diaw, A Stoudemire). Steals: 9 (S
Marion 2, L Barbosa 2, S Nash, R Bell, A
Stoudemire, B Diaw, B Skinner).

-------------------------------------------
UTAH 22 23 20 33 - 98
PHOENIX 24 25 18 36 - 103
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: None.
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 18,422. T: 2:25.
Officials: Derrick Collins, Mark Ayotte, Ron
Garretson.</div>

 

NBA: UTAH at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">UTAH (98) AT PHOENIX (103)

UTAH

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

A KIRILENKO F 38:19 6-13 3-3 0 6 6 3 3 2 1 17
C BOOZER F 40:44 12-24 0-0 4 9 13 2 4 4 4 24
P MILLSAP C 39:47 7-14 6-9 6 7 13 3 4 2 4 20
R BREWER G 24:24 4-6 4-8 1 1 2 0 0 1 0 12
D WILLIAMS G 33:50 7-17 3-5 1 2 3 6 3 1 3 18
M HARPRING 15:14 2-5 0-0 4 1 5 1 1 1 1 4
J HART 22:23 0-5 1-2 1 3 4 1 2 1 0 1
G GIRICEK 8:26 1-3 0-0 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 2
J COLLINS 4:50 0-1 0-0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0
C MILES 5:06 0-1 0-0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
R PRICE 6:57 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
M OKUR DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 39-89 17-27 17 32 49 18 19 12 14 98
(.438) (.630) TEAM REBS: 11 TOTAL TO: 15 (25 PTS)

PHOENIX

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

G HILL F 34:31 4-14 3-3 0 0 0 0 3 0 3 11
S MARION F 38:23 12-19 1-2 5 10 15 1 1 2 1 26
A STOUDEMIRE C 38:55 6-18 6-6 2 7 9 2 4 1 1 18
R BELL G 35:20 1-8 0-0 2 1 3 2 3 1 2 2
S NASH G 36:10 10-12 6-6 2 4 6 11 3 1 6 29
B DIAW 22:17 3-7 2-2 3 3 6 2 3 1 1 8
L BARBOSA 25:53 2-6 1-2 1 1 2 4 1 2 0 5
B SKINNER 8:31 2-3 0-0 0 3 3 0 1 1 1 4
E PIATKOWSKI DNP - COACH'S DECISION
M BANKS DNP - COACH'S DECISION
D STRAWBERRY DNP - COACH'S DECISION
S MARKS DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 40-87 19-21 15 29 44 22 19 9 15 103
(.460) (.905) TEAM REBS: 5 TOTAL TO: 16 (16 PTS)

UTAH 22 23 20 33 - 98
PHOENIX 24 25 18 36 - 103

BLOCKED SHOTS: UTAH - P MILLSAP 2, A KIRILENKO, C BOOZER, D WILLIAMS.
PHOENIX - A STOUDEMIRE 6, S MARION 5, G HILL, B DIAW.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: UTAH 3-7 (.429), A KIRILENKO 2-2, D WILLIAMS 1-
4, C MILES 0-1. PHOENIX 4-17 (.235), G HILL 0-3, S MARION 1-2, R BELL 0-
6, S NASH 3-4, L BARBOSA 0-2.
TECHNICAL FOULS: NONE.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: DERRICK COLLINS, MARK AYOTTE, RON GARRETSON.
A - 18,422. T - 2:25.</div>

 

NBA: UTAH at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">UTAH (98)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
A Kirilenko 38:19 6-13 3-3 0-6 3 3 17
C Boozer 40:44 12-24 0-0 4-13 2 4 24
P Millsap 39:47 7-14 6-9 6-13 3 4 20
R Brewer 24:24 4-6 4-8 1-2 0 0 12
D Williams 33:50 7-17 3-5 1-3 6 3 18
M Harpring 15:14 2-5 0-0 4-5 1 1 4
J Hart 22:23 0-5 1-2 1-4 1 2 1
G Giricek 8:26 1-3 0-0 0-1 2 0 2
J Collins 4:50 0-1 0-0 0-1 0 1 0
C Miles 5:06 0-1 0-0 0-1 0 0 0
R Price 6:57 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 0
M Okur DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 39-89 17-27 17-49 18 19 98
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.438, FT-.630. 3-Point Goals:
3-7, .429 (A Kirilenko 2-2, D Williams 1-4, C
Miles 0-1). Team Rebounds: 11. Blocked
Shots:5 (P Millsap 2, A Kirilenko, C Boozer,
D Williams). Turnovers:14 (C Boozer 4, P
Millsap 4, D Williams 3, M Harpring, A
Kirilenko, R Price). Steals: 12 (C Boozer 4,
A Kirilenko 2, P Millsap 2, M Harpring, R
Brewer, D Williams, J Hart).


PHOENIX (103)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
G Hill 34:31 4-14 3-3 0-0 0 3 11
S Marion 38:23 12-19 1-2 5-15 1 1 26
A Stoudemire 38:55 6-18 6-6 2-9 2 4 18
R Bell 35:20 1-8 0-0 2-3 2 3 2
S Nash 36:10 10-12 6-6 2-6 11 3 29
B Diaw 22:17 3-7 2-2 3-6 2 3 8
L Barbosa 25:53 2-6 1-2 1-2 4 1 5
B Skinner 8:31 2-3 0-0 0-3 0 1 4
E Piatkowski DNP - COACH'S DECISION
M Banks DNP - COACH'S DECISION
D Strawberry DNP - COACH'S DECISION
S Marks DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 40-87 19-21 15-44 22 19 103
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.460, FT-.905. 3-Point Goals:
4-17, .235 (G Hill 0-3, S Marion 1-2, R Bell
0-6, S Nash 3-4, L Barbosa 0-2). Team
Rebounds: 5. Blocked Shots:13 (A Stoudemire
6, S Marion 5, G Hill, B Diaw). Turnovers:15
(S Nash 6, G Hill 3, R Bell 2, B Skinner, S
Marion, B Diaw, A Stoudemire). Steals: 9 (S
Marion 2, L Barbosa 2, S Nash, R Bell, A
Stoudemire, B Diaw, B Skinner).

-------------------------------------------
UTAH 22 23 20 33 - 98
PHOENIX 24 25 18 36 - 103
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: None.
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 18,422. T: 2:25.
Officials: Derrick Collins, Mark Ayotte, Ron
Garretson.</div>

 

NBA: UTAH at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NBA
UTAH 98
PHOENIX 103 FINAL</div>

 

By Bob Huhn PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


PHOENIX (Ticker) - In a match up between two teams that combinedhave lost their last six games Steve Nash took control.

Nash scored 29 points and dished out 11 assists to lift thePhoenix Suns to a 103-98 victory over the Utah Jazz onWednesday.


Shawn Marion added 26 points and grabbed 15 rebounds for theSuns who improved to 10-1 against teams with a winning recordwhile snapping a modest two-game losing streak.


Phoenix suffered the two losses to Minnesota and Miami, teamsthat have a combined record of 9-31, after winning fivestraight.


"We're not flowing right now but this is how we have to win,"Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said. "This is how we have to win andif we build on it, the offense will come. We don't have to talkabout it or even think about it because it's the best and itwill be the best. If we keep the intensity and just the workethic we have tonight we will be who we need to be."

The Suns took an 85-77 lead in the fourth thanks to a 9-2 run.Marion hit a 3-pointer in the spurt and made a layup down thestretch to extinguish any chances the Jazz had at a comeback.

"Defense down the stretch was the key. Defense is always a bigkey," Marion said. "You can definitely score but when you getthat big stop when you need to, to seal the win it makes it mucheasier."


Utah pulled within 94-93 with 2:21 to play before Grant Hill hita driving lay-up to make it 96-93. Deron Williams missed twofree throws with 38 seconds left and Marion scored 23 secondslater to put the game out of reach.


Nash, who had been struggling from the field in the last two<div class="pre">games shooting just 33.3 percent (9-for-27), got his offense</div>going again hitting 10-of-12 shots. The two-time MVP dished out11 assists, snapping his string of seven straight games with 14or more assists.


"It was nice to have a game with some pressure on us and we knewthat we had to play well to beat a team of quality," Nash said."You have to find a way to win even when it is not easyoffensively. I try to be aggressive every game. Tonight theshots were there and I felt a bit better physically. I tried tobe more aggressive because I felt my body could take it."

But you can't fault Nash's performance, especially consideringhe played half the game with a chipped front tooth.Utah's Carlos Boozer hit Nash with an inadvertent forearm whilebattling for a rebound just before the half. Nash handed thetooth to trainer before going to the locker room at the breakand then continued to hand out assists.


"I guess I will spend my day off at the dentist," Nash said. "Ihad the same tooth bent back into my mouth by Karl Malone fiveor six years ago."


The Suns held a 67-65 lead entering the final stanza. BorisDiaw opened the quarter with a three-point play to extend thelead to 70-65.


Utah fought back tying it at 73-73 before Hill regained the leadfor the Suns on a three-point play giving Phoenix a 76-73advantage at the 9:27 mark.


After Paul Millsap missed two free throws Matt Harping kept theball alive for Utah as Millsap scored on a lay up cutting threemargin to one 76-75. Leandro Barbosa then hit a jumper at 8:36again giving phoenix a three point lead.


Following a Utah turnover Shawn Marion added to the Suns leadwith a 3-point shot from the baseline then a lay up making it83-75 with 7:00 left in the game."


"As it turns out we missed a lot of free throws coming down.We're a young team trying to figure out what we are sometimes,"Utah coach Jerry Sloan said. "We got a little too anxious. Thatis one of the things we have a tendency to have done the lastcouple of weeks."


Boozer scored 24 points and had 13 rebounds and Paul Millsapfinished with 20 points and 13 rebounds for Utah, which has losta season high five straight.


"We felt we played well enough to win the game we hadopportunities to win. When they pushed the tempo we were able toget back and stay right with them," Boozer said. "There is noneed to panic but there is a huge sense or urgency to try tocorrect that last five minutes of the game."

 

By Bob Huhn
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


PHOENIX (Ticker) - In a match up between two teams that havelost their last six games combined, Steve Nash took control.

Nash scored 29 points and dished out 11 assists to lift thePhoenix Suns to a 103-98 victory over the Utah Jazz onWednesday.


Shawn Marion added 26 points and grabbed 15 rebounds for theSuns who improved to 10-1 against teams with a winning recordwhile snapping a modest two-game losing streak.


Phoenix suffered the two losses to Minnesota and Miami, teamsthat have a combined record of 9-31, after winning fivestraight.


"We're not flowing right now but this is how we have to win,"Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said. "This is how we have to win andif we build on it, the offense will come. We don't have to talkabout it or even think about it because it's the best and itwill be the best. If we keep the intensity and just the workethic we have tonight we will be who we need to be."

The Suns took an 85-77 lead in the fourth thanks to a 9-2 run.Marion hit a 3-pointer in the spurt and made a layup down thestretch to extinguish any chances the Jazz had at a comeback.

"Defense down the stretch was the key. Defense is always a bigkey," Marion said. "You can definitely score but when you getthat big stop when you need to, to seal the win it makes it mucheasier."


Utah pulled within 94-93 with 2:21 to play before Grant Hill hita driving lay-up to make it 96-93. Deron Williams missed twofree throws with 38 seconds left and Marion scored 23 secondslater to put the game out of reach.


Nash, who had been struggling from the field in the last two<div class="pre">games shooting just 33.3 percent (9-for-27), got his offense</div>going again hitting 10-of-12 shots. The two-time MVP dished out11 assists, snapping his string of seven straight games with 14or more assists.


"It was nice to have a game with some pressure on us and we knewthat we had to play well to beat a team of quality," Nash said."You have to find a way to win even when it is not easyoffensively. I try to be aggressive every game. Tonight theshots were there and I felt a bit better physically. I tried tobe more aggressive because I felt my body could take it."

But you can't fault Nash's performance, especially consideringhe played half the game with a chipped front tooth. Utah'sCarlos Boozer hit Nash with an inadvertent forearm whilebattling for a rebound just before the half. Nash handed thetooth to trainer before going to the locker room at the breakand then continued to hand out assists.


"I guess I will spend my day off at the dentist," Nash said. "Ihad the same tooth bent back into my mouth by Karl Malone fiveor six years ago."


The Suns held a 67-65 lead entering the final stanza. BorisDiaw opened the quarter with a three-point play to extend thelead to 70-65.


Utah fought back tying it at 73-73 before Hill regained the leadfor the Suns on a three-point play giving Phoenix a 76-73advantage at the 9:27 mark.


After Paul Millsap missed two free throws Matt Harping kept theball alive for Utah as Millsap scored on a lay up cutting threemargin to one 76-75. Leandro Barbosa then hit a jumper at 8:36again giving phoenix a three point lead.


Following a Utah turnover Shawn Marion added to the Suns leadwith a 3-point shot from the baseline then a lay up making it83-75 with 7:00 left in the game."


"As it turns out we missed a lot of free throws coming down.We're a young team trying to figure out what we are sometimes,"Utah coach Jerry Sloan said. "We got a little too anxious. Thatis one of the things we have a tendency to have done the lastcouple of weeks."


Boozer scored 24 points and had 13 rebounds and Paul Millsapfinished with 20 points and 13 rebounds for Utah, which has losta season high five straight.


"We felt we played well enough to win the game we hadopportunities to win. When they pushed the tempo we were able toget back and stay right with them," Boozer said. "There is noneed to panic but there is a huge sense or urgency to try tocorrect that last five minutes of the game."