Bobcats sink Suns in OT for 1st ever win in Phoenix

By Mike Tulumello, for NBA.com
Posted Wednesday January 27, 2010 1:24AM

PHOENIX (NBA.com exclusive) -- The Suns seemed to come up with a way Tuesday night to prevent blowing monstrous leads, a distressing trait that virtually has become the team's identity:

Don't assume big leads in the first place.

A night after their latest debacle -- misplacing a 17-point lead late in the third quarter and losing at the Jazz Monday -- they managed to cling to nearly game-long narrow leads against the visiting Bobcats.

Then the Bobcats disrupted Steve Nash and the Suns' offense and -- at the other end -- hit the big shots: a 26-footer by Stephen Jackson to send the game to overtime and another 3-pointer by Flip Murray to seal it in the extra period.

The final: Bobcats, 114-109.

The Bobcats are trying to shed the identity of a team that can beat anyone at home (the 'Cats' 18-5 mark is among the league's best) but does little on the road.

With the win, they climbed to 4-18 on the road. More important, they evened their record at 22-22, making them No. 7 in the East.

For the Suns, the game marked their season's low point so far. The team that started the season 14-3 slipped to 26-21, meaning they've gone just 12-18 since. They've also lost seven of their past nine games.

The Suns are now eighth in the West, just a half-game ahead of the Thunder, Rockets and Hornets, who are all 24-20.

Another way to look at it: Had they held the lead over the Jazz, they would have been tied for fourth heading into Tuesday. Now, they've nearly fallen to No. 11.

"We have to find a way to dig ourselves out of this," said Suns coach Alvin Gentry, who was both animated and dejected. "Nobody is going to feel sorry for us... It's everybody's fault...the players, the coaches. No one can escape criticism from this.

"We have to correct it or we'll be out of the playoffs," Gentry said.

The Suns' 3-point game caught other teams "off guard" early in the season, Amar'e Stoudemire acknowledged.

"Now, they've figured out what we do best," Stoudemire said. "We have to make adjustments."

Before the game, Gentry said he would prepare for future lead protections by going "more defensive... We've not had a real problem manufacturing offense. We have to become more conscious of coming up with more stops."

That would seem to mean a heavy dose of Robin Lopez, by far their best interior defender.

But in the key late moments against the Bobcats, the Suns went small and could neither come up with the necessary stops or cohesive possessions on offense.

Afterward, Gentry lamented that the Suns only scored 15 points in the fourth quarter, when 16 could have given them a win.

"You can't do that no matter how good their defense is," Gentry said.

For the Bobcats, Jackson had 30 points, nine rebounds and just one turnover in 44 minutes. Ex-Sun Boris Diaw had a smooth 24-point, 11-rebound game.

"Everybody knows that when Boris plays like that, we have a great chance to win," Jackson said.

Coach Larry Brown praised point guard Raymond Felton's defense on Nash, saying, "Raymond is one of the few guys who can keep Steve from penetrating at will."

For the Suns, Nash shot just 7-for-22 and had 23 points, nine assists and six turnovers. Shooting guard Jason Richardson, another key figure, shot 2-for-12 and scored six points in 45 minutes.

The Suns assumed a modest 54-48 lead at halftime even though Nash (0-for-7) and Stoudemire combined for just two points. They were able to do so behind 15 points from Channing Frye and 12 by Lopez.

Stoudemire, the subject once again of numerous trade rumors, committed three quick fouls, played just six minutes and failed to score in the first half. He scored 10 points in the third quarter and finished with 12 points, plus five rebounds, five fouls and five turnovers in 31 minutes.

The Suns managed to cling to narrow leads through most late stages of the game, sometimes by using a zone defense, a strategy that Gentry only reluctantly employs.

The Suns led 98-95 and had the ball in the final 40 seconds but Nash dribbled out the shot clock for a turnover.

Then Jackson stepped back from the Suns' Lou Amundson and nailed a 26-footer from up top to tie the game.

Nash tried to find an opening in the middle but the Bobcats clogged the lane and Nash couldn't find anyone for a good shot. Jared Dudley ended up throwing up a long prayer that wasn't answered.

In overtime, Stoudemire committed two turnovers to start things off badly for the Suns.

Meanwhile, Jackson hit a jumper, Felton scored on a driving layup and Diaw hit a short jumper. Then Murray bombed home a 3-pointer for a decisive 107-101 lead with 1:16 left.

The win was Charlotte's first victory in Phoenix after five losses.

Suns forward Grant Hill's consecutive-game streak of 128 ended when he missed the game because of a bruised heel.

Hill had played in all 46 games this season and all 82 games last season, a streak in which he took much pride. Earlier in his career, he'd missed huge chunks of time because of injuries.

Hill's resurgence as an injury free player was a big reason he re-signed with the Suns, who have a highly regarded medical and training staff, instead of signing with an elite team such as the Celtics.

• Bobcats: Ajinca, Chandler
• Suns: Barbosa

• Bobcats: Felton
• Suns: Frye

• Lead Changes: 3
• Times Tied: 4

• Arena: US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ
• Officials: #10 Ron Garretson, #71 Rodney Mott, #63 Derek Richardson
• Attendance: 15722
• Duration: 2:44