Trail Blazers-Suns Preview

By JUSTIN EINHORN
Posted Jan 13 2011 2:09PM

A favorable opponent and an extra day off give the Portland Trail Blazers a good chance to rebound from one of their worst offensive performances of the season.

The Blazers go on the road to begin an easy portion of the schedule Friday night as they try to pick apart the league-worst defense of the Phoenix Suns and complete a season sweep.

Portland (20-19) is coming off a stretch of five games in eight days, capped by back-to-back home losses. The Blazers had won eight of 11 before a 107-100 overtime defeat to Miami on Sunday, then appeared a bit tired Tuesday as they trailed New York for most of the game and lost 100-86.

Besides producing only eight assists - seven fewer than its previous season low - Portland made 34.9 percent from the field for its second-worst shooting performance of the season.

Coach Nate McMillan said his team 'looked mentally fatigued' and told the Blazers' official website that he ordered his players to take Wednesday off.

"Get out the gym tomorrow," he said. "I don't want anybody coming in. I think they need to get away. We'll come back Thursday and get some work."

LaMarcus Aldridge posted his sixth straight double-double - the most by a Portland player since Arvydas Sabonis had seven in 1997 - but was held to 19 points on 8-of-18 shooting. He had averaged 27.7 points and shot 52.4 percent over the previous six games.

"We have stretches like this," Aldridge said. "We can't play perfect every night. We won two or three in a row and now we lost two so we just have to figure it out and bounce back."

Facing the Suns seems like a good way to do so. They're giving up a league-high 108.9 points per game and 115.5 over the last four, with opponents posting at least 24 assists each time and hitting a combined 40.0 percent from 3-point range.

Portland is 9 for 42 from beyond the arc in the past two games, including 2 for 12 from Welsey Matthews. He's failed to score more than 15 points in five of six games this month after that happened just five times in six weeks.

Matthews has averaged 17.6 points against Phoenix this season to help the Blazers take all three meetings and score more than 100 in each.

They've won seven of eight versus the Suns (16-21), the first of seven straight opponents with losing records. Only two of those games are on the road.

Phoenix has won its last two home games but trailed in the fourth quarter of both, and they were against the Eastern Conference's worst teams - Cleveland and New Jersey. Between those victories came a 132-98 defeat at Denver on Tuesday, the Suns' 12th loss in 13 games against teams which currently have winning records.

They had to overcome a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter Wednesday night to beat the Nets 118-109 in overtime.

"This is the type of game, especially after (Tuesday) night, we needed to find a way to win and that's exactly what we did," said Steve Nash, who had 23 points and 16 assists. "We were competing but not playing great, then we took a stand."

It's unclear if Grant Hill will return after missing two games with a sprained knee as Phoenix tries to avoid its first season sweep to Portland since dropping all three meetings during the abbreviated 1999 season.

Copyright 2011 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited

Nash's 3-pointer helps Suns beat Portland 115-111

By BOB BAUM
Posted Jan 15 2011 2:24AM

PHOENIX (AP) Thanks largely to a big game from their two old guys, the Phoenix Suns have won two in a row for the first time in more than a month.

Steve Nash, who turns 37 on Feb. 7, had 23 points, including a 3-pointer that put Phoenix ahead for good with 1:11 to play, and handed out 13 assists, directing the Suns to a 115-111 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night.

Grant Hill, back after missing two games with a sprained knee, scored 21 for the Suns, who hadn't won consecutive games since Dec. 5. The 38-year-old Hill became the 14th active player to reach 16,000 points.

"It's certainly special," Hill said of the milestone, "to be able to continue to play after a lot of injuries and still be out there. Sometimes I get depressed because I could have more, but I will take the 16,000 and won't be greedy."

Hill had appeared in 70 consecutive regular-season games before he was sidelined with the minor knee ailment.

Andre Miller scored all 19 of his points in the second half for the Trail Blazers in the last of four games between the teams this season. Portland won the first three.

"We struggled with this team as much as anyone because they do a good job of dictating tempo," Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry said. "We had not scored 100 on them this season and even in the playoffs it was really hard to and to get a rhythm and play. Tonight we kept forcing the issue and got the tempo up where it needed to be."

Six players, including all five starters, reached double figures for Phoenix.

Wesley Matthews scored 26 and LaMarcus Aldridge 25 for the Blazers. Nicolas Batum added 18.

Vince Carter scored 17 for Phoenix and Jared Dudley 13 off the bench for the Suns, who shot 54 percent for the game, including 10 of 19 on 3-pointers.

"You need to get stops," Blazers coach Nate McMillan said. "They came down and Nash made some big shots, some big plays down the stretch with their pick and roll, had a couple of buckets and a couple of assists. One-hundred eleven points is enough, should be enough, to win a ballgame, but defensively they shoot over 50 percent from the floor as well as from the 3-point line."

The two straight Phoenix victories have followed an embarrassing 132-98 loss at Denver that led Suns president Lon Babby to apologize to fans.

Portland led by as many as 13 in the second quarter but Phoenix came back to cut it to 59-56 at the break and it was tight throughout the second half.

Channing Frye - who had 12 points, eight rebounds and three blocks - blocked Patrick Mills' layup attempt, then sank a 3-pointer that put the Suns ahead 96-94 with 8:05 to play. Goran Dragic's driving layup down the lane made it 98-94. Phoenix stayed ahead, but never by more than four, before Portland tied it at 108 with Batum's two free throws 1:21 from the finish.

Nash took the inbounds pass, dribbled across center court, and as he has done so many times before, let it fly from the top of the key for the game's most crucial basket.

"We tried to take away their easy drives," Matthews said. "We switched up, and he comes and hits a big 3 on us."

Nash slipped out of the locker room without talking to reporters.

After uncharacteristically missing two free throws in the game, Nash made two from the line to finally seal it with 4.4 seconds to go.

By going 5 for 7 from the line, Nash fell slightly behind Mark Price as the most accurate free throw shooter in NBA history. Price is at 90.3895 percent, Nash at 90.3526. Nash can move back on top by making 12 straight free throws.

Notes: Nash's string of 48 consecutive free throws ended when he missed one on a defensive 3-second technical foul against Portland with 6:37 left in the second quarter. ... The Blazers shot 63 percent in the first quarter but just 37 percent in the second and finished the game at 48 percent. ... The Trail Blazers last swept a season series from Phoenix by going 3-0 in the strike-shortened 1998-99 season. ... Hill made two 3s in a game for the first time since April 7. ... Phoenix's third straight home win tied a season high. ... The Blazers, who will be without star Brandon Roy indefinitely because of arthroscopic surgery next week on both knees, fell to 20-20. ... Dudley had a four-point play in the second quarter.

Copyright 2011 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited

Blazers-Suns notebook

By Jonathan Dalton, for NBA.com
Posted Saturday January 15, 2011 2:04AM

THE FACTS: Steve Nash scored a team-high 23 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:11 remaining, and the Phoenix Suns rallied to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 115-111 on Friday night. Grant Hill scored 21 in his first game back after missing consecutive games with a sore right knee and Vince Carter added 17 for the Suns, who have won consecutive games for the first time since the first week of December. Wesley Matthews led the Blazers with 26 points and LaMarcus Aldridge added 25.

Portland led by as many as 13 points in the first half before settling for a 59-56 halftime lead. Hill gave the Suns their first lead since the opening three minutes, hitting a 3-pointer from the right wing to put Phoenix ahead 83-82 with 3:06 left in the third quarter. Nicolas Batum sank two free throws to tie the game at 108, but Nash hit the 3-pointer, backpedaling with his finger extended as it went through the net, to give Phoenix the lead for good.

The Suns avoided being swept in the series season by the Blazers for the first time since the lockout-shortened 1999 season.

QUOTABLE: "I'm admitting to kicking the leg out a la Reggie Miller. It was an offensive foul that was called as a defensive foul. The refs get it wrong once in a while. It was crafty."
-- Jared Dudley said of his key four-point play in front of the Suns bench with 4:28 to go in the first half.

THE STAT: Matthews, Aldridge, Andre Miller and Batum accounted for all but 23 of the Blazers' 111 points. Bench production has been sketchy at best for the Blazers, a fact made more apparenty by the 32 points scored by the Suns bench. Marcus Camby was a non-factor offensively, scoring eight points on 2-for-5 shooting, but did pull down 15 rebounds.

TURNING POINT: Dudley's four-point play gave Phoenix a much needed lift. Not only were the Suns trailing 51-40 at the time, but they still were digging out of a hole created when they failed to score over the first three-plus minutes of the second quarter. Dudley's 3-pointer and subsequent free throw pulled Phoenix within 51-44 and started a 9-0 run that brought the Suns within two.

QUOTABLE II: "If we can get a streak put together we can get right back in the playoff race, so why give up."
-- Vince Carter.

HOT: Large deficits don't seem to bother the Suns. Phoenix rallied from a double-digit deficit for the sixth time this season and second game in a row.

NOT: The Blazers, who were shooting over 60 percent for most of the first half before falling to 51.2 percent, shot 44.7 percent from the floor in the second half and 38.9 percent in the fourth quarter. Portland made 6-for-9 3-pointers in the first half but only 2-of-8 in the second, including a 1-for-7 performance in the fourth.

INSIDE THE ARENA: Senator and former GOP presidential candidate John McCain (R-Ariz.) was in attendance.

NOTABLE: Hill became the 15th active player with 16,000 points, reaching the plateau on a 17-foot jumper with 4:47 left in the third quarter.

UP NEXT: For the Blazers, Saturday vs. New Jersey, Monday vs. Minnesota, Wednesday @ Sacramento. For the Suns, Monday @ New York, Wednedsay @ Cleveland, Friday @ Washington.

• Trail Blazers: Oden, Roy, Williams
• Suns: Lawal, Siler

• Trail Blazers: --
• Suns: Dragic, Nash

• Lead Changes: 13
• Times Tied: 12

• Arena: US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ
• Officials: #15 Bennett Salvatore, #34 Kevin Cutler, #61 Courtney Kirkland
• Attendance: 17412
• Duration: 2:37

Portland Trail Blazers (20-20)		Phoenix Suns (17-21)
Start of 1st Quarter
(12:00) Jump Ball Lopez vs Camby (Miller gains possession)
Aldridge Turnaround Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS)	11:40 [POR 2-0]
	11:24	Carter Jump Shot: Missed
	11:22	Team Rebound
	11:10 [PHX 2-2]	Frye Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Hill (1 AST)
Batum Turnaround Jump Shot: Missed	10:52
	10:51	Hill Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	10:43 [PHX 4-2]	Lopez Jump Bank Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Nash (1 AST)
Miller Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	10:43
	10:43 [PHX 5-2]	Lopez Free Throw 1 of 1 (3 PTS)
Matthews 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Miller (1 AST)	10:32 [POR 5-5]
	10:22	Lopez Foul : Offensive (1 PF)
	10:22	Lopez Turnover : Foul (1 TO)
Matthews Running Jump Shot: Missed	10:12
Batum Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	10:11
Aldridge Jump Shot: Made (4 PTS)	10:05 [POR 7-5]
	09:50	Frye Jump Shot: Missed
Aldridge Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	09:49
Aldridge Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Carter (1 ST)	09:44
	09:41 [PHX 7-7]	Carter Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS)
Aldridge Alley Oop Layup shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Camby (1 AST)	09:29 [POR 9-7]
	09:29	Frye Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Aldridge Free Throw 1 of 1 Missed	09:29
	09:28	Frye Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	09:13 [PHX 9-9]	Hill Dunk Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Nash (2 AST)
Camby Jump Shot: Missed	08:45
	08:44	Hill Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	08:32	Frye 3pt Shot: Missed
Miller Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	08:31
Matthews Jump Shot: Made (5 PTS)	08:24 [POR 11-9]
	08:16	Hill Jump Shot: Missed
Camby Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	08:15
	08:08	Nash Foul : Personal (1 PF)
Batum Foul : Offensive (1 PF)	08:03
Batum Turnover : Foul (1 TO)	08:03
	07:49	Hill Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Miller (1 ST)
Matthews 3pt Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Batum (1 AST)	07:41 [POR 14-9]
	07:32 [PHX 11-14]	Frye Jump Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Nash (3 AST)
Aldridge Jump Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Miller (2 AST)	07:07 [POR 16-11]
	06:46 [PHX 14-16]	Carter 3pt Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Nash (4 AST)
Batum Jump Shot: Missed Block: Frye (1 BLK)	06:29
	06:27	Nash Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	06:22	Nash Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO)
Batum 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Camby (2 AST)	06:01 [POR 19-14]
	05:50 [PHX 16-19]	Nash Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS)
	05:38	Nash Foul : Personal (2 PF)
	05:38	Team Timeout : Regular
	05:38	Nash Technical
	05:38	Nash Substitution replaced by Dragic
Matthews Free Throw Technical Missed	05:38
Team Rebound	05:38
	05:34	Carter Foul : Personal (1 PF)
Aldridge Alley Oop Dunk Shot: Made (10 PTS) Assist: Camby (3 AST)	05:27 [POR 21-16]
	05:10 [PHX 19-21]	Frye 3pt Shot: Made (7 PTS) Assist: Hill (2 AST)
Matthews Turnaround Bank shot: Missed	04:52
	04:51	Hill Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)
	04:43	Carter 3pt Shot: Missed
Miller Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	04:42
Aldridge Jump Shot: Missed	04:19
	04:18	Frye Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	04:14 [PHX 21-21]	Dragic Running Bank shot: Made (2 PTS)
Miller Jump Shot: Missed	03:47
	03:46	Frye Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)
	03:36 [PHX 23-21]	Hill Turnaround Jump Shot: Made (4 PTS)
Team Timeout : Regular	03:27
Batum Substitution replaced by Fernandez	03:27
Camby Substitution replaced by Cunningham	03:27
	03:27	Lopez Substitution replaced by Dudley
	03:27	Carter Substitution replaced by Gortat
Matthews 3pt Shot: Missed	03:07
Miller Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)	03:06
Cunningham Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Miller (3 AST)	02:59 [POR 23-23]
	02:41	Hill Jump Shot: Missed
Cunningham Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	02:40
	02:25	Dragic Foul : Personal (1 PF)
Matthews Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	02:25
Team Rebound	02:25
Miller Substitution replaced by Mills	02:25
Matthews Free Throw 2 of 2 (9 PTS)	02:25 [POR 24-23]
	02:11	Dragic Layup Shot: Missed
Cunningham Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	02:09
Mills Running Bank shot: Made (2 PTS)	02:03 [POR 26-23]
	01:49	Hill Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Cunningham (1 ST)
Mills Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Matthews (1 AST)	01:45 [POR 28-23]
	01:30	Hill Turnover : Lost Ball (3 TO) Steal:Cunningham (2 ST)
Cunningham Jump Shot: Missed	01:14
	01:14	Dragic Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	01:09	Dragic Jump Shot: Missed Block: Fernandez (1 BLK)
	01:07	Dudley Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
Cunningham Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	01:07
Aldridge Substitution replaced by Przybilla	01:07
	01:07	Dragic Technical
Fernandez Free Throw Technical (1 PTS)	01:07 [POR 29-23]
	01:07 [PHX 24-29]	Dudley Free Throw 1 of 2 (1 PTS)
	01:07 [PHX 25-29]	Dudley Free Throw 2 of 2 (2 PTS)
Fernandez Jump Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Przybilla (1 AST)	00:55.4 [POR 31-25]
Przybilla Foul : Shooting Block (1 PF)	00:45.4
	00:45.4 [PHX 26-31]	Hill Free Throw 1 of 2 (5 PTS)
	00:45.4	Hill Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed
Przybilla Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	00:44.9
Cunningham Jump Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Fernandez (1 AST)	00:28.3 [POR 33-26]
	00:06.9	Dragic Jump Shot: Missed
	00:05.9	Gortat Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
	00:05.9 [PHX 28-33]	Gortat Tip Shot: Made (2 PTS)
Matthews 3pt Shot: Made (12 PTS) Assist: Mills (1 AST)	00:01.1 [POR 36-28]
End of 1st Quarter
Portland Trail Blazers (20-20)		Phoenix Suns (17-21)
Start of 2nd QuarterBack to Top
	11:45	Dudley Layup Shot: Missed
Batum Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)	11:44
Cunningham Turnover : Traveling (1 TO)	11:32
	11:20	Carter Jump Shot: Missed
Cunningham Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)	11:18
Fernandez Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Gortat (1 ST)	11:08
	10:59	Dragic Turnover : Traveling (1 TO)
Fernandez Jump Shot: Missed	10:44
	10:43	Gortat Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
Przybilla Foul : Shooting Block (2 PF)	10:30
	10:30	Carter Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	10:30	Team Rebound
	10:30	Carter Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed
Przybilla Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	10:30
Cunningham Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Dudley (1 ST)	10:09
Batum Foul : Personal (2 PF)	10:05
Przybilla Substitution replaced by Aldridge	10:05
	09:55	Carter Jump Shot: Missed
Fernandez Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	09:54
Mills Jump Shot: Made (6 PTS)	09:45 [POR 38-28]
	09:31	Dragic Jump Shot: Missed
Team Rebound	09:30
	09:30	Carter Substitution replaced by Hill
Aldridge Jump Shot: Made (12 PTS) Assist: Batum (2 AST)	09:14 [POR 40-28]
	09:14	Dragic Foul : Shooting (2 PF)
	09:14	Dragic Substitution replaced by Nash
Aldridge Free Throw 1 of 1 (13 PTS)	09:14 [POR 41-28]
	08:57	Nash Jump Shot: Missed
	08:56	Team Rebound
Mills Foul : Loose Ball (1 PF)	08:56
	08:56
	08:47 [PHX 30-41]	Gortat Turnaround Jump Shot: Made (4 PTS)
Fernandez 3pt Shot: Missed	08:24
	08:23	Nash Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	08:17 [PHX 32-41]	Warrick Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Nash (5 AST)
Fernandez Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	08:17
Cunningham Substitution replaced by Camby	08:17
Mills Substitution replaced by Miller	08:17
Batum Substitution replaced by Matthews	08:17
	08:17 [PHX 33-41]	Warrick Free Throw 1 of 1 (3 PTS)
Matthews Jump Shot: Missed	07:54
	07:53	Dudley Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
Miller Foul : Shooting (2 PF)	07:47
	07:47	Dudley Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	07:47	Team Rebound
Fernandez Substitution replaced by Batum	07:47
	07:47	Dudley Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed
Camby Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	07:47
Matthews 3pt Shot: Made (15 PTS) Assist: Miller (4 AST)	07:20 [POR 44-33]
	07:08 [PHX 36-44]	Dudley 3pt Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Nash (6 AST)
Miller Jump Shot: Missed	06:54
Camby Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)	06:52
Batum Alley Oop Layup shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Miller (5 AST)	06:47 [POR 46-36]
Camby Foul : Defense 3 Second (0 PF)	06:37
	06:37	Nash Free Throw Technical Missed
	06:37	Team Rebound
	06:27	Warrick Layup Shot: Missed
Camby Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)	06:25
Aldridge Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO)	06:23
	06:08 [PHX 38-46]	Dudley Driving Layup Shot: Made (7 PTS)
Batum 3pt Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Miller (6 AST)	05:43 [POR 49-38]
	05:28 [PHX 40-49]	Warrick Dunk Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Gortat (1 AST)
	05:05	Gortat Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
	05:05	Team Timeout : Regular
	05:05	Gortat Substitution replaced by Frye
	05:05	Warrick Substitution replaced by Lopez
Aldridge Free Throw 1 of 2 (14 PTS)	05:05 [POR 50-40]
Aldridge Free Throw 2 of 2 (15 PTS)	05:05 [POR 51-40]
	04:52	Hill Jump Bank Shot: Missed
Miller Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)	04:49
Matthews 3pt Shot: Missed	04:36
	04:35	Nash Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)
	04:28 [PHX 43-51]	Dudley 3pt Shot: Made (10 PTS) Assist: Nash (7 AST)
Miller Foul : Shooting (3 PF)	04:28
	04:28 [PHX 44-51]	Dudley Free Throw 1 of 1 (11 PTS)
Miller Jump Shot: Missed Block: Frye (2 BLK)	04:12
Aldridge Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)	04:10
Aldridge Jump Shot: Missed	04:08
	04:07	Hill Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)
	04:00 [PHX 46-51]	Nash Jump Shot: Made (4 PTS)
Team Timeout : Regular	03:50
Miller Substitution replaced by Mills	03:50
	03:35	Nash Foul : Defense 3 Second (2 PF)
Matthews Free Throw Technical Missed	03:35
Team Rebound	03:35
Mills Jump Shot: Missed	03:28
	03:27	Frye Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)
	03:13	Nash Jump Shot: Missed
	03:12	Team Rebound
	03:06	Dudley 3pt Shot: Missed
Batum Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)	03:05
Camby Jump Shot: Missed Block: Lopez (1 BLK)	02:57
Team Rebound	02:57
	02:54	Hill Foul : Personal (1 PF)
Aldridge Turnover : Traveling (3 TO)	02:39
	02:26 [PHX 49-51]	Hill 3pt Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Nash (8 AST)
Batum Jump Shot: Made (10 PTS) Assist: Aldridge (1 AST)	02:08 [POR 53-49]
	02:08	Hill Foul : Shooting (2 PF)
Matthews Substitution replaced by Fernandez	02:08
Batum Free Throw 1 of 1 Missed	02:08
	02:07	Dudley Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
	01:49	Nash Jump Shot: Missed
Camby Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)	01:49
	01:37	Lopez Foul : Shooting (2 PF)
Camby Free Throw 1 of 2 (1 PTS)	01:37 [POR 54-49]
	01:37	Hill Substitution replaced by Carter
Camby Free Throw 2 of 2 (2 PTS)	01:37 [POR 55-49]
	01:30 [PHX 51-55]	Nash Floating Jump shot: Made (6 PTS)
Mills Jump Shot: Missed	01:04
Aldridge Rebound (Off:2 Def:1)	01:03
Aldridge Layup Shot: Missed	01:03
Camby Rebound (Off:2 Def:4)	01:01
Camby Tip Shot: Made (4 PTS)	01:01 [POR 57-51]
	00:55.8 [PHX 53-57]	Nash Jump Shot: Made (8 PTS)
Fernandez Jump Shot: Missed	00:41.9
	00:40.8	Nash Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)
	00:35.9	Nash 3pt Shot: Missed
Team Rebound	00:34.1
	00:34.1	Lopez Foul : Personal (3 PF)
	00:34.1	Lopez Substitution replaced by Gortat
	00:34.1	Nash Substitution replaced by Dowdell
Batum Free Throw 1 of 2 (11 PTS)	00:34.1 [POR 58-53]
Batum Free Throw 2 of 2 (12 PTS)	00:34.1 [POR 59-53]
	00:23.8 [PHX 56-59]	Carter 3pt Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Dowdell (1 AST)
Mills Turnover : Lost Ball (1 TO) Steal:Dowdell (1 ST)	00:18.9
	00:17.3	Dowdell Jump Shot: Missed Block: Camby (1 BLK)
	00:17.3	Team Rebound
	00:17.3	Team Timeout : Short
Batum Substitution replaced by Cunningham	00:17.3
Mills Substitution replaced by Johnson	00:17.3
	00:01.2	Carter Turnover : Out of Bounds Lost Ball Turnover (1 TO)
Team Timeout : Short	00:01.2
End of 2nd Quarter
Portland Trail Blazers (20-20)		Phoenix Suns (17-21)
Start of 3rd QuarterBack to Top
	11:47 [PHX 58-59]	Hill Driving Layup Shot: Made (10 PTS)
Batum Alley Oop Dunk Shot: Made (14 PTS) Assist: Miller (7 AST)	11:31 [POR 61-58]
	11:09	Lopez Foul : Offensive Charge (4 PF)
	11:09	Lopez Turnover : Foul (2 TO)
Miller Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Nash (1 ST)	10:46
	10:35	Hill Jump Shot: Missed
Camby Rebound (Off:2 Def:5)	10:34
Camby Jump Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Matthews (2 AST)	10:19 [POR 63-58]
Camby Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	10:08
	10:08 [PHX 59-63]	Lopez Free Throw 1 of 2 (4 PTS)
	10:08 [PHX 60-63]	Lopez Free Throw 2 of 2 (5 PTS)
Camby Jump Shot: Missed	09:51
	09:50	Lopez Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	09:37 [PHX 62-63]	Lopez Jump Shot: Made (7 PTS) Assist: Nash (9 AST)
Aldridge Jump Shot: Made (17 PTS)	09:14 [POR 65-62]
	08:59	Nash Reverse Layup Shot: Missed
Camby Rebound (Off:2 Def:6)	08:59
	08:47	Frye Foul : Shooting (2 PF)
	08:47	Lopez Substitution replaced by Gortat
Aldridge Free Throw 1 of 2 (18 PTS)	08:47 [POR 66-62]
Aldridge Free Throw 2 of 2 (19 PTS)	08:47 [POR 67-62]
	08:31	Gortat Alley Oop Layup shot: Missed
Camby Rebound (Off:2 Def:7)	08:30
	08:26	Frye Foul : Shooting (3 PF)
Camby Free Throw 1 of 2 (7 PTS)	08:26 [POR 68-62]
Camby Free Throw 2 of 2 (8 PTS)	08:26 [POR 69-62]
	08:11	Hill Foul : Offensive Charge (3 PF)
	08:11	Hill Turnover : Foul (4 TO)
Miller Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Carter (2 ST)	08:02
	07:45	Hill Fade Away Jumper Shot: Missed
	07:44	Gortat Rebound (Off:2 Def:1)
	07:34 [PHX 64-69]	Hill Turnaround Jump Shot: Made (12 PTS) Assist: Frye (1 AST)
Matthews 3pt Shot: Made (18 PTS) Assist: Miller (8 AST)	07:20 [POR 72-64]
	07:19	Team Timeout : Regular
	07:05	Carter Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Miller (2 ST)
Miller Jump Shot: Missed	07:00
	06:59	Carter Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	06:53 [PHX 66-72]	Hill Jump Shot: Made (14 PTS) Assist: Nash (10 AST)
Aldridge Turnaround Jump Shot: Missed	06:30
Batum Rebound (Off:2 Def:2)	06:28
Batum Layup Shot: Made (16 PTS)	06:28 [POR 74-66]
	06:14 [PHX 68-74]	Carter Jump Bank Shot: Made (10 PTS)
Matthews Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	06:14
	06:14 [PHX 69-74]	Carter Free Throw 1 of 1 (11 PTS)
Aldridge Layup Shot: Made (21 PTS) Assist: Camby (4 AST)	06:00 [POR 76-69]
	05:45 [PHX 71-76]	Carter Jump Shot: Made (13 PTS) Assist: Nash (11 AST)
Aldridge Turnover : Traveling (4 TO)	05:31
	05:22 [PHX 74-76]	Nash 3pt Shot: Made (11 PTS)
Matthews Jump Shot: Made (20 PTS)	04:59 [POR 78-74]
	04:47 [PHX 76-78]	Hill Jump Shot: Made (16 PTS)
Team Timeout : Regular	04:46
Matthews Alley Oop Layup shot: Missed	04:34
	04:30	Carter Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	04:22 [PHX 78-78]	Gortat Layup Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Hill (3 AST)
Matthews Jump Shot: Missed	03:56
Camby Rebound (Off:3 Def:7)	03:55
Miller Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Batum (3 AST)	03:50 [POR 80-78]
	03:44 [PHX 80-80]	Hill Reverse Layup Shot: Made (18 PTS) Assist: Nash (12 AST)
Miller Jump Shot: Missed	03:23
Camby Rebound (Off:4 Def:7)	03:23
Miller Jump Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Camby (5 AST)	03:19 [POR 82-80]
	03:06 [PHX 83-82]	Hill 3pt Shot: Made (21 PTS) Assist: Nash (13 AST)
Miller Jump Shot: Made (6 PTS)	02:46 [POR 84-83]
	02:28	Gortat Foul : Offensive (2 PF)
	02:28	Gortat Turnover : Foul (1 TO)
Matthews Substitution replaced by Fernandez	02:28
Camby Substitution replaced by Cunningham	02:28
	02:28	Carter Substitution replaced by Dudley
	02:18	Hill Foul : Shooting (4 PF)
Miller Free Throw 1 of 2 (7 PTS)	02:18 [POR 85-83]
	02:18	Hill Substitution replaced by Pietrus
Miller Free Throw 2 of 2 (8 PTS)	02:18 [POR 86-83]
Batum Foul : Personal (3 PF)	02:02
	01:52	Nash Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Aldridge (1 ST)
Cunningham Jump Shot: Missed	01:32
	01:31	Gortat Rebound (Off:2 Def:2)
	01:10	Nash 3pt Shot: Missed
Fernandez Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	01:09
Aldridge Jump Shot: Missed	00:51.9
	00:50.9	Nash Rebound (Off:0 Def:5)
	00:44.0 [PHX 85-86]	Nash Jump Shot: Made (13 PTS)
Miller Jump Shot: Missed	00:30.9
	00:29.8	Nash Rebound (Off:0 Def:6)
	00:16.9	Pietrus 3pt Shot: Missed
Fernandez Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)	00:15.8
	00:03.5	Dudley Foul : Personal (1 PF)
	00:03.5	Frye Substitution replaced by Dragic
	00:03.5	Nash Substitution replaced by Warrick
Miller Jump Shot: Missed	00:02.9
	00:01.5	Team Rebound
Cunningham Foul : Personal (2 PF)	00:00.4
Miller Substitution replaced by Mills	00:00.4
End of 3rd Quarter
Portland Trail Blazers (20-20)		Phoenix Suns (17-21)
Start of 4th QuarterBack to Top
Fernandez 3pt Shot: Missed	11:40
	11:39	Frye Rebound (Off:0 Def:5)
	11:31	Dudley 3pt Shot: Missed
	11:30	Frye Rebound (Off:1 Def:5)
	11:30 [PHX 87-86]	Frye Tip Shot: Made (9 PTS)
	11:13	Dragic Foul : Shooting (3 PF)
Mills Free Throw 1 of 2 (7 PTS)	11:13 [POR 87-87]
Mills Free Throw 2 of 2 (8 PTS)	11:13 [POR 88-87]
Mills Foul : Personal (2 PF)	11:08
	10:56	Dudley Turnaround Jump Shot: Missed
Przybilla Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)	10:55
	10:34	Pietrus Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Matthews Free Throw 1 of 2 (21 PTS)	10:34 [POR 89-87]
Matthews Free Throw 2 of 2 (22 PTS)	10:34 [POR 90-87]
	10:18 [PHX 89-90]	Dudley Layup Shot: Made (13 PTS) Assist: Warrick (1 AST)
Fernandez Running Jump Shot: Missed	09:56
	09:55	Warrick Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	09:47	Dragic Floating Jump shot: Missed
	09:46	Warrick Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
Przybilla Foul : Shooting (3 PF)	09:46
Przybilla Substitution replaced by Aldridge	09:46
	09:46 [PHX 90-90]	Warrick Free Throw 1 of 2 (6 PTS)
	09:46 [PHX 91-90]	Warrick Free Throw 2 of 2 (7 PTS)
Matthews Jump Shot: Made (24 PTS) Assist: Mills (2 AST)	09:30 [POR 92-91]
Matthews Foul : Shooting (2 PF)	09:16
	09:16 [PHX 92-92]	Warrick Free Throw 1 of 2 (8 PTS)
	09:16 [PHX 93-92]	Warrick Free Throw 2 of 2 (9 PTS)
Matthews 3pt Shot: Missed	09:06
Mills Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	09:05
Matthews Jump Shot: Made (26 PTS)	08:53 [POR 94-93]
	08:34	Frye Alley Oop Layup shot: Missed
Mills Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)	08:33
Mills Jump Shot: Missed Block: Frye (3 BLK)	08:26
	08:25	Frye Rebound (Off:1 Def:6)
Cunningham Foul : Personal (3 PF)	08:25
	08:25
	08:05 [PHX 96-94]	Frye 3pt Shot: Made (12 PTS) Assist: Dragic (1 AST)
Matthews Jump Shot: Missed	07:42
	07:41	Pietrus Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	07:24 [PHX 98-94]	Dragic Floating Jump shot: Made (4 PTS)
Aldridge Jump Bank Shot: Made (23 PTS)	07:00 [POR 96-98]
	07:00	Frye Foul : Shooting (4 PF)
Cunningham Substitution replaced by Camby	07:00
Fernandez Substitution replaced by Miller	07:00
Mills Substitution replaced by Batum	07:00
Aldridge Free Throw 1 of 1 (24 PTS)	07:00 [POR 97-98]
Matthews Foul : Shooting (3 PF)	06:36
	06:36	Warrick Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	06:36	Team Rebound
	06:36	Pietrus Substitution replaced by Hill
	06:36	Warrick Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed
Camby Rebound (Off:4 Def:8)	06:35
Miller Jump Shot: Missed	06:16
	06:15	Dudley Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)
	06:09	Frye 3pt Shot: Missed
Camby Rebound (Off:4 Def:9)	06:08
	05:53	Warrick Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
	05:53	Team Timeout : Regular
	05:53	Dragic Substitution replaced by Lopez
	05:53	Dudley Substitution replaced by Carter
	05:53	Warrick Substitution replaced by Nash
Camby Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	05:53
Team Rebound	05:53
Camby Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed	05:53
	05:53	Hill Rebound (Off:0 Def:5)
	05:35 [PHX 100-97]	Lopez Hook Shot: Made (9 PTS) Assist: Frye (2 AST)
Batum 3pt Shot: Missed	05:10
	05:09	Hill Rebound (Off:0 Def:6)
	04:50	Carter Jump Shot: Missed
	04:49	Lopez Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
	04:49	Lopez Tip Shot: Missed
	04:49	Lopez Rebound (Off:2 Def:1)
	04:49	Lopez Tip Shot: Missed
Aldridge Rebound (Off:2 Def:2)	04:49
Miller Turnover : Double Dribble (3 TO)	04:24
	04:05 [PHX 102-97]	Nash Running Jump Shot: Made (15 PTS)
Team Timeout : Regular	04:05
Miller Turnaround Jump Shot: Made (10 PTS) Assist: Batum (4 AST)	03:48 [POR 99-102]
	03:20	Lopez Turnover : Lost Ball (3 TO) Steal:Camby (1 ST)
Miller Turnover : Out of Bounds Lost Ball Turnover (4 TO)	03:17
	03:09	Nash Turnover : Bad Pass (3 TO) Steal:Matthews (1 ST)
	03:09	Nash Foul : Personal (3 PF)
Miller Free Throw 1 of 2 (11 PTS)	03:09 [POR 100-102]
Miller Free Throw 2 of 2 (12 PTS)	03:09 [POR 101-102]
Camby Foul : Personal (2 PF)	03:00
	03:00 [PHX 103-101]	Nash Free Throw 1 of 2 (16 PTS)
	03:00 [PHX 104-101]	Nash Free Throw 2 of 2 (17 PTS)
Batum 3pt Shot: Missed	02:49
	02:48	Frye Rebound (Off:1 Def:7)
	02:32	Carter 3pt Shot: Missed
Miller Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)	02:31
Miller Jump Shot: Made (14 PTS) Assist: Camby (6 AST)	02:18 [POR 103-104]
	01:58 [PHX 106-103]	Carter Driving Bank shot: Made (15 PTS)
Batum Foul : Shooting (4 PF)	01:58
	01:58 [PHX 107-103]	Carter Free Throw 1 of 1 (16 PTS)
Miller 3pt Shot: Made (17 PTS) Assist: Aldridge (2 AST)	01:40 [POR 106-107]
Matthews Foul : Personal (4 PF)	01:30
	01:30 [PHX 108-106]	Lopez Free Throw 1 of 2 (10 PTS)
	01:30	Lopez Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed
Camby Rebound (Off:4 Def:10)	01:29
	01:21	Carter Foul : Personal (2 PF)
Batum Free Throw 1 of 2 (17 PTS)	01:21 [POR 107-108]
Batum Free Throw 2 of 2 (18 PTS)	01:21 [POR 108-108]
	01:11 [PHX 111-108]	Nash 3pt Shot: Made (20 PTS)
Matthews 3pt Shot: Missed	00:53.9
Camby Rebound (Off:5 Def:10)	00:52.9
	00:43.7	Frye Foul : Personal (5 PF)
Aldridge Free Throw 1 of 2 (25 PTS)	00:43.7 [POR 109-111]
Aldridge Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed	00:43.7
	00:43.5	Hill Rebound (Off:0 Def:7)
Miller Foul : Shooting (4 PF)	00:29.6
	00:29.6	Carter Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	00:29.6	Team Rebound
	00:29.6 [PHX 112-109]	Carter Free Throw 2 of 2 (17 PTS)
Team Timeout : Regular	00:29.6
	00:29.6	Lopez Substitution replaced by Warrick
Camby Substitution replaced by Fernandez	00:29.6
Aldridge Hook Shot: Missed	00:21.9
	00:20.4	Warrick Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
	00:19.2	Team Timeout : Short
	00:19.2	Warrick Substitution replaced by Dragic
	00:19.2	Team Timeout : Short
Fernandez Foul : Personal Take (2 PF)	00:14.2
	00:14.2	Nash Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	00:14.2	Team Rebound
	00:14.2 [PHX 113-109]	Nash Free Throw 2 of 2 (21 PTS)
Team Timeout : Short	00:14.2
	00:14.2	Frye Substitution replaced by Warrick
Miller Driving Layup Shot: Made (19 PTS)	00:05.9 [POR 111-113]
Miller Foul : Personal Take (5 PF)	00:04.4
	00:04.4 [PHX 114-111]	Nash Free Throw 1 of 2 (22 PTS)
	00:04.4 [PHX 115-111]	Nash Free Throw 2 of 2 (23 PTS)
Team Timeout : Short	00:04.4
Matthews 3pt Shot: Missed	00:02.1
Team Rebound	00:00.0
End of 4th Quarter

broadcast information
country		channel			time
usa			ESPN	National	10:30 pm ET
		--	KGW	Local	10:30 pm ET
		--	FSA	Local	10:30 pm ET
		--	KTAR	Local	10:30 pm ET
		--	KXTG	Local	10:30 pm ET
canada		--	NBAC	national	10:30 pm ET