Suns-Hawks Preview

By MATT BEARDMORE
Posted Feb 05 2012 11:03PM

The Atlanta Hawks are struggling to find production down low with two of their centers sidelined due to injury.

The Phoenix Suns may have found someone to help Marcin Gortat in the paint.

Atlanta looks to avoid a season-high third straight defeat Monday night when the visiting Suns go for a fourth consecutive victory in this series.

With two-time All-Star Al Horford gone for at least three months due a torn left pectoral muscle he sustained Jan. 11 and Jason Collins likely out two weeks due to a sprained left elbow suffered in Thursday's 96-77 home loss to Memphis, the Hawks (16-8) need Zaza Pachulia to be a bigger presence near the basket. He is averaging 7.8 points and 6.5 rebounds in the 13 games since Horford went down, with Atlanta posting a 9-4 mark in those contests.

Despite that success, forward Josh Smith isn't satisfied with the Hawks' frontcourt play without Horford.

"We haven't been having a post player since Al left," Smith said after scoring nine points with 10 rebounds and seven blocks in Saturday's 98-87 home loss to Philadelphia.

Still, Hawks coach Larry Drew likes the lift undrafted rookie power forward Ivan Johnson has provided off the bench. Johnson's production - 24 points and 22 rebounds - over the last two games has been one of the few bright spots as Atlanta now seeks to avoid its first three-game losing streak since an 0-6 skid to end last season.

"I started Ivan (in the second half on Saturday instead of Pachulia) because he brings the energy," said Drew, whose team opened 8-1 at Philips Arena before losing the first two on its current four-game homestand. "... If he keeps providing that, he's going to play more minutes."

Backup center Robin Lopez could find himself in a similar position for the Suns (9-14) after scoring nine consecutive points during a 12-2 fourth-quarter run in Saturday's 95-89 home win over league-worst Charlotte.

Lopez finished with 13 points in 19-plus minutes after scoring 16 in his previous seven games combined.

"Robin came in, did a great job and really gave us a big lift and got us over the hump," coach Alvin Gentry said.

Starter Marcin Gortat has been putting up big numbers all season, averaging team and career highs of 15.2 points and 10.3 rebounds. He has double-digit rebounds in 15 consecutive games, matching Kevin Love for the longest such streak in the NBA this season.

Gortat scored 13 points and grabbed 12 rebounds off the bench Feb. 23 as the Suns won their third straight in this series, 105-97 in Phoenix.

Steve Nash had 19 points - including four crucial free throws in the final seven seconds - and 15 assists in the Suns' last trip to Atlanta, a 118-114 victory Nov. 7, 2010.

The two-time MVP is averaging 19.0 points and 11.2 assists in his last 10 road games versus the Hawks.

If Jared Dudley misses a second straight game with a thigh bruise, Nash could be joined by Michael Redd in the Phoenix backcourt. Making his first start since Jan. 10, 2010, Redd hit four 3-pointers and scored 17 points Saturday.

"To come back, through the (ACL and MCL) tears, through the hurt, through the hours of rehab, training to come back and accomplish this is maybe the most proud moment of my career," said Redd, who hasn't played more than 33 games in a season since 2007-08.

Hawks leading scorer Joe Johnson - a former Sun - scored 34 points the last time Phoenix was in town.

Atlanta's last three-game home skid was March 4-8.

Nash has 24 points to lead Suns past Hawks 99-90

By CHARLES ODUM
Posted Feb 06 2012 11:02PM

ATLANTA (AP) On the eve of his 38th birthday, Steve Nash showed he can still control a game.

Nash had 24 points and 11 assists while missing only three shots, and the Phoenix Suns closed the third quarter with a 24-6 run and beat the Atlanta Hawks 99-90 on Monday night.

Nash, whose birthday is Tuesday, made nine of 12 shots - including each of his four 3-pointers.

"He's still one of the better point guards in the league," Hawks coach Larry Drew said. "He's very crafty. He gets the ball to the open man. He's still making shots. He's 38, but you'd never know it when you watch him play."

Nash had discomfort in his right shoulder during the team's shooting practice Monday morning and again before the game.

"I feel good and I enjoy playing," Nash said after having treatment on the shoulder following the game.

Nash said the shoulder "wasn't bad."

Channing Frye, who had 19 points, said Nash doesn't show his age on the court.

"He never plays like his age, and he's always getting involved," Frye said. "He's huge for our team. He's awesome to play with."

Nash, the NBA's leader with 9.9 assists per game, showed no sign he was bothered by a sore shoulder. He played the full first and third periods and had a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to close the first half.

"It was strange because when that shot left his hand, I just knew it was going in," Drew said. "I just had a feeling it was going in. I've seen him do it a number of times."

Frye had a 3-pointer and another basket in the closing minutes to help the Suns stop Atlanta's final comeback attempt.

"I thought Channing shot the ball well, and when he does that, we're pretty good," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said.

After trailing by 16 in the second quarter, the Hawks recovered to trail only 60-58 after back-to-back 3-pointers by Joe Johnson and Josh Smith in the third period. Nash had another 3 before the shot clock expired to help the Suns launch the decisive run to lead 84-64 entering the final period.

Smith had 18 points, and Johnson had 17.

Nash and the other starters sat out most of the final period before returning after the Hawks cut the lead to 94-83 with less than 4 minutes remaining.

The Suns play at Milwaukee on Tuesday, so Nash said "it would have been nice" to rest the full final period.

"But it got dangerous," Nash said. "We weren't scoring."

The Suns have won three of four. Meanwhile, the Hawks suffered their third straight loss, all at home, after a 4-1 road trip.

"For whatever reason, they are struggling a bit, but they are a real good team," Gentry said of the Hawks. "I think every team goes through ups and downs, and it's not unlike what others have gone through - like Miami, Oklahoma City and the Lakers. When the schedule is the way it is, it's real difficult to be up and ready to go every night."

The Hawks are facing a critical shortage of centers. Backup Jason Collins will miss at least two weeks after he sprained his left elbow in Thursday's loss to Memphis. All-Star Al Horford was lost for three months with a torn left pectoral muscle on Jan. 11.

Center Zaza Pachulia was left with little help against the Suns' two 6-foot-11 starters, Frye and Marcin Gortat, and 7-foot backup Robin Lopez. The Hawks moved to a smaller lineup when Pachulia was called for his fourth foul with 8:09 remaining in the third period.

The lack of size was no excuse for the Hawks' inability to contain Nash, who had 17 points in his dominant first half.

After Phoenix had a big first-half lead of 16 at 43-27, Atlanta needed a late surge to avoid trailing by double figures at halftime for the third straight game.

A steal and free throw by Smith helped start Atlanta's 17-9 run to close the half. Johnson sank a 3-pointer with 3.8 seconds remaining to cut the Suns' lead to four points. Nash answered by launching his buzzer-beating 3 to give Phoenix a 55-48 lead at the break.

Notes: G Jared Dudley started and had 10 points after missing one game for Phoenix with a thigh bruise. Michael Redd also had 10 points. .. Nash made six of seven shots in the first half, including each of his three 3s. ... Wolf Blitzer of Atlanta-based CNN had a front-row seat. ... Willie Green had 14 points for Atlanta, including 10 in the final period.

Notebook: Suns 99, Hawks 90

Posted Monday February 6, 2012 11:04PM

By Matt Winkeljohn, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: Steve Nash and the Suns toyed with the Hawks for much of the game Monday night, when the Phoenix point guard had 24 points and 11 assists to lead the visitors to a 99-90 win that left the Hawks in a free fall.

The Suns made 11 3-pointers, and while Atlanta wasn't as vulnerable in the paint as in the two previous games the Hawks still suffered their third straight ugly home loss after starting the season 8-1 in Philips Arena. Phoenix has won three of its past four games, and has beaten the Hawks four straight times. They meet in Arizona next Wednesday.

Nash had all of his points and 10 of his assists in the first three quarters and the Suns led by 22 points early in the fourth quarter with him on the bench. Atlanta coach Larry Drew pulled the last of his starters with 6:24 left in the game and his team trailing by 16.

Atlanta subs made the score more respectable from there as Willie Green scored 12 of his 14 points in the final period, but the Hawks have hardly been competitive in losing to the Grizzlies, 76ers and Phoenix in Philips Arena in a span of five days.

Channing Frye had 19 points and nine rebounds as the Suns outrebounded Atlanta 45-35 and shot 51.9 percent (41-for-79), including 11-for-24 from beyond the arc.

Josh Smith had 18 points for the Hawks, and Joe Johnson added 17.

QUOTABLE: "I just don't see how we respond as if the game is over [in the second quarter]. I was hoping we were past that point."
-- Drew.

THE STAT: The Suns out-rebounded the Hawks 39-22 over the final three quarters.

ANOTHER STAT: The Hawks are 3-4 against teams from the Western Conference, and 13-5 against teams from the East.

TURNING POINT: For Atlanta's third straight game, all at home, there really was no turning point as the Hawks were thoroughly outplayed almost from the jump. The point could be made that the absence of centers Al Horford (torn pectoral muscle) and Jason Collins (sprained elbow) has caught up to Atlanta.

QUOTABLE II: "We tried to be aggressive, and take advantage of the mismatches . . . [Nash] never does [play like he's 37]. He's an awesome player."
-- Frye.

HOT: Nash made all four of his shots in the first quarter, including a pair of treys, and made 9-of-12 for the night. . . . Smith (6-for-12 shooting) broke out of his scoring slump. Prior to scoring 18 Monday, he averaged 8.3 points over his previous four games while scoring in single digits three times and shooting 13-for-37.

NOT: After making just 1-of-5 shots, Atlanta's Kirk Hinrich has shot 6-for-25 over five games. . . . Hawks sub Vladimir Radmanovic went scoreless for the fourth time in six games, missing all five of his shots. He's made just 3-of-13 in that span. . . . Tracy McGrady missed both his shots for Atlanta, and his availability (knees, back) continues to be hit or miss. He played just 8:12, and not at all in the second half.

GOOD MOVE: Despite the fact that the Hawks had struggled horribly to defend the paint in their two previous games (surrendering a combined 112 points there), Suns coach Alvin Gentry said before the game that his team wouldn't deviate much from their normal operating procedure.

Sure enough, Phoenix took a 27-23 lead by the end of the first quarter largely on the strength of jump shots. Outscored 16-6 in the paint in the period, the Suns moved ahead by swinging the ball around, and shooting 4-for-6 from beyond the arc and 8-for-12 outside the paint.

BAD MOVE: When Atlanta center Zaza Pachulia picked up his fourth foul with 8:09 left in the third quarter, the Hawks' disadvantage in the paint became much greater.

With Smith (6-9) and rookie forward Ivan Johnson (6-feet-8) forced to play center against Marcin Gortat (6-11), the Suns began moving the ball through the post more frequently and to positive effect..

Phoenix outscored Atlanta 12-6 in the paint in the third, when Gortat scored six of his eight points and grabbed six of his nine rebounds as the Suns won the quarter 29-16.

ROOKIE WATCH: Suns forward Markeif Morris pitched in seven points and seven rebounds, and made his only three-point shot to beat the shot clock.

NOTABLE: Jared Dudley returned to the starting lineup for Phonix after missing the Suns' win Saturday over the Bobcats. That ended his streak of consecutive games played at 206, dating back to March 6, 2009. Michael Redd, who started Saturday and scored 17 points in Dudley's place, scored 10 off the bench as Shannon Brown did not play-coach's decision for the second time in six games. . . . The Suns are 5-1 when Dudley (10 points) and Frye (19) both score at least 10 points. The lone loss game in a game that Nash and Grant Hill missed.

UP NEXT: For the Suns, Tuesday @ Bucks, Thursday vs. Rockets, Saturday vs. Kings. For the Hawks, Wednesday vs. Pacers, Friday @ Magic, Saturday vs. Heat.

• Suns: --
• Hawks: Horford

• Suns: Hill
• Hawks: --

• Lead Changes: 6
• Times Tied: 4

• Arena: Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA
• Officials: #24 Mike Callahan, #18 Matt Boland, #68 Marat Kogut
• Attendance: 11823
• Duration: 2:01