Wizards-Suns Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN
Posted Feb 20 2012 12:25AM

The Washington Wizards opened their five-game road trip with a pair of surprising victories before suffering ugly back-to-back defeats.

Concluding their trek on a positive note could prove difficult with a visit to Phoenix in store.

The Wizards try to avoid a 10th consecutive loss to the Suns as the teams meet for the only time this season Monday night.

After dropping 10 of its first 11 road games, Washington (7-24) shot a combined 53.5 percent to open its trip with a 98-77 win at Detroit on Feb. 12 and a 124-109 victory at Portland on Tuesday.

The Wizards, however, failed to carry any momentum into their next two games. Two nights after falling 102-84 at the Los Angeles Clippers, Washington was handed a 114-100 defeat at Utah on Friday.

"We weren't getting back, taking tough shots and not playing defense," said John Wall, who scored 24 points. "To give up 100 points in three quarters is unnecessary. It's tough to win those games on the road."

The Wizards haven't completed a road trip of four games or more with at least a .500 record since going 3-1 from Dec. 17-22, 2006. Washington concluded that trek with a 144-139 overtime win at Phoenix (13-19) and is hoping for a similar result in this one.

"Just try to make the last one a blowout for us," Wall said. "Were 2-2, you want the last one to end up on your terms ... (we) just gotta keep battling and try to get a win in Phoenix."

If their recent efforts in this series are any indication, the Wizards could have a hard time keeping up with the Suns. Washington has been outscored by an average of 17.7 points in dropping nine consecutive meetings with Phoenix - including a 109-91 home defeat Jan. 21, 2011, in the most recent matchup.

The Suns concluded a home-and-home set with the Los Angeles Lakers and snapped a four-game losing streak with Sunday's 102-90 victory. Marcin Gortat posted 21 points and 15 rebounds for his fourth double-double in five games while Jared Dudley scored a season-high 25.

"I think offensively we were really efficient and we did a good job of executing," coach Alvin Gentry said. "(Jared Dudley) came up with some good shots for us and Marcin seems to be playing really solid night in and night out."

Phoenix may want to think about calling Dudley's number a bit more. The Suns improved to 6-1 when he scores at least 16 points.

While Phoenix had plenty to feel good about following Sunday's win, Gentry was quick to turn his attention to the Wizards.

"We still have to come back (Monday) and play well. (Washington) is a real talented team; I don't think you can judge them by their record," he said. "They've got a lot of real young players. Yeah we are playing at home, but once again we've got to come back and do a good job."

Even with Sunday's win, the Suns are just 3-6 over their last nine games at the US Airways Center. Phoenix is averaging 95.6 points at home this season - nearly 10 points lower than its 105.5 mark from 2010-11.

Steve Nash is averaging 13.4 assists in his last nine games, recording double digits in each. He's averaging 18.5 points and 14.1 assists in his last 11 meetings with Washington.

Gortat, Nash, Frye lead Suns over Wizards 104-88

By BOB BAUM
Posted Feb 21 2012 1:51AM

PHOENIX (AP) For an instant early in the second half, the Washington Wizards appeared to have a legitimate shot at their first victory over Phoenix in six years. Then they were overwhelmed during one of the Suns' most dominant stretches of basketball this season.

Marcin Gortat scored 20 points, Steve Nash had 12 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds in three quarters, and the Suns beat Washington 104-88 on Monday night for their 10th straight win over the Wizards.

Phoenix, coming off a 102-90 home victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, won on consecutive nights for the first time this season.

"It was important to be strong and be tough mentally because we expended a lot of energy last night," Nash said. "We haven't had a couple of days off in it feels like forever."

The Suns outscored Washington 31-6 after the Wizards took their only lead of the game early in the third quarter.

"Selfish, that's what it was," Wizards coach Randy Wittman said. "We were up by one and then went on a spree of the most selfish basketball I have seen since I have taken over. I have to find the right people to play the right way because I am not letting that slip back in."

Phoenix led by 24 entering the fourth.

"That felt very good," Channing Frye said his team's big run. "I think it's letting everybody get into a rhythm. Defensively you saw we started to pick it up, just give them one shot. We were moving, we were talking on `D' and just playing good basketball."

Frye added 19 points and 11 rebounds and Michael Redd scored 14 for the Suns, who topped 100 points against Washington for the 18th time in a row, the longest active streak of its kind in the NBA.

Jordan Crawford scored 20 points for the Wizards, who finished a five-game trip with three losses after winning the first two.

Trevor Booker added 16 for Washington. Nick Young, the Wizards' leading scorer at 17.5 points per game, shot just 3 of 13 for six points, the latest of several big scorers to have a rough night while being defended by Grant Hill.

The Wizards outscored the Suns 7-1 to start the second half and took a 55-54 lead on Booker's three-point play.

Phoenix scored on its next eight possessions, a 16-0 outburst that put the Suns up 70-55 on Nash's 8-footer with 3:53 left in the third quarter. Phoenix kept going from there, finishing the quarter with a 12-3 run to lead 85-60 entering the fourth. Redd had eight points in the surge, including a pair of 3-pointers. The second one came with 34.8 seconds left in the period.

"We just played well, really," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. "I wish I had a deep thought about it, but we played well. We were good defensively and we got out and ran and got easy shots. That's really all it was."

Overall, Phoenix outscored Washington 32-13 in the third.

"We stopped playing as a team," said Wizards guard John Wall, who finished with 10 points. "We stopped moving the ball."

The Suns never trailed in the first half but never got the lead to double digits, either.

They jumped out to a 19-10 lead but, when Phoenix had five reserves on the court, Washington rallied to tie it at 36 on Rashard Lewis' 9-foot runner with 6:17 left in the half.

The Phoenix starters returned and a 6-0 Suns spurt made it 42-36 when Hill scored on a fast-break layup. Gortat's dunk on a pass from Nash, followed by one of two free throws from Frye, boosted the lead to 45-38 with 3:51 to go in the half. The Wizards cut it to 51-48 when Young made his first shot of the night on his sixth attempt, a 12-footer with 37.8 seconds left.

Hill's two free throws made it 53-48 and Wall was called for an offensive foul, against Markieff Morris, on Washington's final possession before the break.

Frye had 10 points and six rebounds in the first quarter. Gortat scored 13 in the first half and Nash had eight assists. Wall and JaVale McGee had 10 points apiece in the first two quarters for Washington.

Notes: This was the only meeting between the teams this season. ... The Wizards haven't had a winning road trip of five games or more since 2005. ... Washington's last victory over the Suns was on Dec. 22, 2006, when Gilbert Arenas scored 54 points in an overtime victory at Phoenix. ... The Suns won consecutive home games for only the second time this season. ... Phoenix led by as many as 27 against the Lakers on Sunday night and 26 against Washington.

Notebook: Suns 104, Wizards 88

Posted Tuesday February 21, 2012 12:52AM

By Mike Tulumello, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: Grant Hill is on his defensive game. And that means the Phoenix Suns have a shot at running up a win streak.

Hill, who helped harass Kobe Bryant into 10 turnovers the previous night, shut down Nick Young Monday night as the Suns (14-19) wore down the visiting Washington Wizards en route to a 104-88 win.

Hill's defense last season was a key in allowing the Suns to at least contend for a playoff spot. But he got off to a slow start this season, and so did the Suns.

Now, they're in the midst of a six-game homestand. So far, they're 2-0 thanks to avoiding a letdown after their season's biggest win Sunday night over the Los Angeles Lakers.

On Monday, the night after covering Bryant for 35 minutes ("it's like guarding anybody else for 50," said Suns coach Alvin Gentry) Hill helped limit Young, who averages 17.5 points, to just six.

"I think he's playing great," coach Gentry said.

"I'm getting there," said Hill, who had a surgical procedure in September to fix "bone and cartilage floating around my knee...I didn't start running until a couple of days before training camp.

"Next year, I'll be better prepared," said Hill, who will be 40 next season.

Marcin Gortat led the Suns with 20 points. His screen-and-roll partner, Steve Nash, had 12 points and 11 assists.

The Wizards (7-25) finished their 5-game road trip 2-3. They were led by Jordan Crawford's 20 points.

QUOTABLE: "He's smart enough to know if he sets a good screen and rolls to the basket, there's a good chance he'll get an easy basket."
-- Gentry on Gortat's ability to team with Nash.

THE STAT: Young shot just 3-for-13 for the Wizards.

TURNING POINT: The Suns trailed early in the third quarter, 55-54, when Jared Dudley took a pass from Nash on a fast break for a reverse layup. The Suns' starters were off and running for 16 straight points. They continued the assault through the end of the third quarter, a 31-6 spree in all, with the Suns going to a zone defense toward the end of it.

"We became selfish," lamented Wizards coach Randy Wittman. ""We were up one and go on a spree of the most selfish basketball I've seen since I've taken over.

"I've got to find the right people to find the right way to play. But I'm not letting that slip back in."

QUOTABLE II: "Nobody deserves the All Star designation more than he does...and I was hoping he didn't make it. That's just a coach being selfish."
-- Gentry on Nash.

HOT: Channing Frye nailed 4-for-7 on 3-pointers for the Suns.

NOT: Rashard Lewis shot just 1-for-6 for the Wizards.

FANTASY SPOTLIGHT: For the first time in his career, Gortat has recorded three straight 20-point games. He has four such games in his last six.

NOTABLE: The Suns have won 10 straight vs. the Wizards, their longest active streak against any team.

UP NEXT: For the Wizards, Wednesday vs. Kings, Tuesday, Feb. 28th @ Milwaukee and Wednesday Feb. 29th vs. Magic. For the Suns, Wednesday vs. Warriors, Thursday, March 1 vs. Timberwolves and Friday, March 2 vs. Clippers.

• Wizards: Turiaf
• Suns: --

• Wizards: --
• Suns: --

• Lead Changes: 2
• Times Tied: 3

• Arena: US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ
• Officials: #57 Greg Willard, #45 Brian Forte, #28 Tommy Nunez Jr.
• Attendance: 13921
• Duration: 2:10