PHOENIX (NBA.com exclusive) --  The Suns get beat at their own game about as often as snowstorms hit Arizona's Valley of the Sun.

On Sunday night in Phoenix, though, the athletic Raptors -- who play a quick, wide-open, spread-em out' style in the Suns' mold -- led most of the game against the team with the NBA's best record.

And when sharpshooter Hedo Turkoglu launched a step-back 20-footer over the Suns' Channing Frye in the closing seconds, the Raptors had a huge win in their sights.

But Turkoglu misfired, and the Suns (9-2) held on for a breathtaking 101-100 win.

"Wow!" Suns coach Alvin Gentry said.

"A really, really good win.

"They present so many problems for you. "They are a lot like us. They have guys who can screen and go to the basket...They have shooters all around."

Beforehand, coach Jay Triano wondered, "We really haven't faced anybody like this, where there are similar styles...spread it out and have lots of guys who can create. It will be interesting to see."

It was.

Their game plan was to limit second chances, the kind that energize a potent Suns' team that has scored 100 points in every game.

They nearly succeeded, thanks to their tremendous front line: Chris Bosh, jump-shooting big man Andrea Bargnani (who mirrors the game of the Suns' Frye) and the 6-foot-10 "3" man Turkoglu.

The Suns had only 13 second-chance points.

At the same time, the Raptors (5-5) played at measured pace, not too fast, but not like a wagon train, either.

The formula looked good for a win when Turkoglu hit a 25-foot, 3-pointer to tie the game 98-98 then hit a 23-footer for a 100-98 Raptors' lead with 52 seconds left.

Then Steve Nash drove the lane and scored from the left side while Jose Calderon committed a killer foul.

Nash converted the 3-point play, the final scoring of the game, for the 101-100 lead.

Turkoglu and Nash traded misses on 3-pointers, setting up the final play.

Grant Hill replaced Amar'e Stoudemire for defensive purposes, and Hill picked up Turkoglu before Frye switched up and took over the assignment.

"He's a tough cover, especially at the end of games," Frye said. Turkoglu fumbled the ball (the Suns wondered whether he double-dribbled), "so I had a chance to get a little closer to him," Frye said.

Still, Turkoglu stepped back and got away a clear shot.

"He loves the big shots," Frye pointed out. "Luckily, he missed."

The Suns now are 8-0 in games that were not the second night of a back-to-back set. Perhaps this is a good sign for them for post-season purposes.

They've also won 11 straight against the Raptors, their longest active streak against any opponent.

They're also used to beating Eastern Conference teams; they're 96-25 vs. the East since the start of the Steve Nash era (2004-05).

For the Raptors, Bosh, continuing his superstar-level play, had 25 points on 10-of-19 shooting plus 10 boards.

Triano says Bosh's game "is probably as well rounded as it ever has been. He's scoring, making outside shots, getting to the free-throw line. He's defending extremely well."

He's also not as affected by contact as in the past.

"Now, he fights through that," his coach says. But can he sustain it?

After all, he's tended to fade late in seasons past.

"We're trying to manage his minutes and not wear him down as has happened in the past. We've done a pretty decent job of that so far...

"That and fact he spent time taking care of his body this summer and made sure he's stronger and able to withstand the rigors of the NBA schedule. Hopefully, that will play a big part."

Stoudemire and Bosh often guarded each other; the guy with the ball usually won.

Stoudemire had a season high 30 points and eight rebounds.

Nash had 23 points and nine assists.

And though he didn't show up much in the stat column, key reserve Jared Dudley (five rebounds, two blocks and four points) helped out on key defensive stops.

Dudley was on the floor during the hair-raising closing seconds.

"He's instrumental in everything we do." Gentry said. "He's a coach's dream."

Frye hit some big shots late and finished with 20 points, including 6-of-8 on 3-pointers.

And he had that big stop at the end.

"Last year (with the Trail Blazers), I wouldn't have seen the court at the end of games. Now, I get the game-winning stop."