Jazz-Suns Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN
Posted Mar 13 2012 2:04PM

Playing at home versus on the road has made a world of difference for the Utah Jazz.

Picking up more wins as the visiting team will surely be key if they are going to eventually climb into the Western Conference playoff picture.

Utah looks to avoid a 13th loss in 16 road games and a sixth consecutive defeat to the Phoenix Suns as these teams open their season series Wednesday night.

While the Jazz (20-21) have won 15 of 21 on their own court, they've struggled to get things going in opposing arenas. Utah's 5-15 road record is second-worst among West teams, a big reason the team is outside the top eight in the conference.

Averaging 99.8 points at home compared to 93.9 on the road, the Jazz returned from a 2-3 trip to defeat Detroit 105-90 on Monday. Utah shot 54.2 percent from the field and outrebounded the Pistons 38-29.

"It's a good start to a big week for us. This is a good game for us to win," said Paul Millsap, who had a season-high five steals and his first double-double in three weeks. "We're only a few games out of the playoffs, so we're gonna come and do everything we can to win games, and hopefully we'll get there in the end."

Utah now heads back on the road, where it's been outscored by an average of 10.5 points in dropping six straight versus West foes.

"Hopefully we can try and figure it out on the road," Millsap said. "It's a big difference, especially for a young team. On the road, it's a different monster - it's just you against the world and you gotta be prepared for that."

The Jazz could have a hard time building on Monday's result given their recent efforts versus the Suns (19-22). Phoenix has outscored Utah by 10.6 points per contest during a five-game run in the series.

Despite posting their highest scoring output of the season Monday, the Suns saw their five-game home winning streak come to an end with a 127-124 loss to Minnesota. The Timberwolves dominated the paint, where they outscored Phoenix 46-32, and shot 56.2 percent from the field and 63.6 percent (14 of 22) from 3-point range.

"We just did a poor job defensively, obviously," said Jared Dudley, who scored a season-high 28 points and is averaging 19.7 over the last six games. "But even with that our offense kept us in the game and still gave us a chance to win the game.

"They played well enough to beat us (Monday) and we have to go back to the drawing board and come back on Wednesday and beat Utah."

The Suns could have trouble trying to contain an inspired Al Jefferson, who scored 33 points on 14-of-18 shooting to go along with 12 boards Monday - about 24 hours after the passing of his 82-year-old maternal grandmother.

"It's tough to go through, but it's a part of life and you must go on," he said. " ... Your teammates (are) your second family. They've been very supportive. They didn't even expect me to play tonight. I told them I was coming ... 100 percent ready to win the game because it's all about business when you step on that court."

While Jefferson's career average of 20.7 points versus Phoenix is his highest against any opponent, he's only experienced four wins in 17 meetings with the Suns.

Frye, Gortat help Suns rally past Jazz

Posted Mar 15 2012 1:48AM

PHOENIX (AP) Coming off a miserable performance, Marcin Gortat was ready to go from the start Wednesday night.

Gortat scored 25 points and Channing Frye had a game-high 26 to help the Phoenix Suns overcome a 13-point deficit and beat the Utah Jazz 120-111 on Wednesday night.

Gortat scored 13 of his points in the first half on 6-of-8 shooting two nights after finishing with eight points in 19 foul-riddled minutes against Minnesota.

"I definitely wanted to forget about that last game," said Gortat, who finished 10 of 12 with five rebounds. "I was trying to come out and be aggressive from the first whistle. I know my team needs that, so that was my first goal."

Gortat's first-half effort wasn't enough to keep the Suns from falling behind 46-33 with 6:03 left before halftime, continuing what has been a season-long trend.

Phoenix has won six of its last seven games at home and in each of those games, the Suns trailed by double digits before turning the tide.

"We're doing this on purpose," Gortat said. "We just like playing from behind. Even in practice, the coaches put us down minus-10."

Suns coach Alvin Gentry would be just as happy to see the trend end.

"We had three guys with 20 or more and all the starters in double figures and that's great and fine," Gentry said. "But we are just going to have to zero in and get a little better defensively. The last two games have been a little alarming."

Jared Dudley added 21 points and Steve Nash finished with 12 points and 16 assists for the Suns, who tied the Jazz for 10th place in the Western Conference, two games behind eighth place Houston.

"That can't continue for us to be successful," Dudley said, "especially going on the road."

Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap each scored 18 points for Utah, which has lost six straight against Phoenix.

The Suns took their first lead since early in the first quarter on Gortat's free throw 48 seconds into the second half and never trailed after Frye hit an 8-foot jumper with 10:39 left in the third.

Utah tied it at 91 with 9:28 remaining after Gentry was assessed a technical foul, but Frye hit a 3-pointer to key a 7-2 run and Phoenix took a 101-95 lead with 7:21 to play.

"We got right there," Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said. "We even got an offensive rebound, but we tipped it out of bounds and they got a second chance. We had a couple of opportunities to get the possession and just didn't get it."

The Jazz pulled back within three on Jefferson's 16-foot jumper with 6:35 left. But Grant Hill followed his own miss for a layup, hit a 14-foot jumper and fed Dudley for a breakaway dunk to put the Suns ahead 107-100 with 4:39 remaining.

"We couldn't get over the hump," Corbin said. "We didn't get the break we needed, but we have another one tomorrow."

Frye was 10 of 18 from the field, including five 3-pointers, and blocked four shots.

"Dudley didn't miss too many shots, Channing Frye didn't miss too many shots, so we had to pick our poison," Millsap said. "It's tough because they spread four guys on the wing and, if not, Gortat is driving down the lane. You have to pick and choose."

Notes: The Jazz are 3-12 on the road against Western Conference opponents. ... The Suns have scored 120 points or more in consecutive games for the first time since March 26-27, 2010, after reaching the 120-point mark once in the season's first 40 games. .. Phoenix had three 20-point scorers for the first time since April 11, 2011, against Minnesota and for the first time in regulation since December 15, 2010, also against the Timberwolves. ... In addition to Gentry, Suns guard Shannon Brown, Jazz guard Devon Harris and Corbin also received second-half technicals. ... Jazz guard Earl Watson left the game with 7:15 left in the first half after spraining his left ankle. He didn't return.

Notebook: Suns 120, Jazz 111

Posted Thursday March 15, 2012 1:49AM

By Mike Tulumello, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: To grab one of the last playoff spots, the Phoenix Suns will have to win virtually every home game. They accomplished this Wednesday night, by outlasting the Utah Jazz, 120-111, in a game of wild swings.

The Suns, winners of eight of their past 11 games, moved to 20-22, pulling into a tie for 10th place in the West with the Jazz. The two teams are three games behind No. 8 Houston (24-20).

The Suns got a season-high 26 points from Channing Frye, plus 25 from Marcin Gortat, 21 from Jared Dudley and 12 points and 16 assists from Steve Nash.

Paul Millsap led the Jazz with 18 points and 10 boards. Al Jefferson added 18 points and seven boards.

The Jazz got fine play off the bench as their reserves outscored their Suns' counterparts, 55-24. Jamaal Tinsley had a season-high 11 points.

The Jazz led by as many as 13 points early before the Suns tied it, 53-53, at halftime.

The Suns ran up an 89-79 lead in the closing seconds of the third quarter, then Tinsley nailed a 40-footer at the buzzer. This propelled the Jazz on a 12-2 run that made it 91-91 with 9:28 left.

A 3-pointer by Frye and a driving 3-point play by Shannon Brown helped the Suns pull away.

QUOTABLE: "We're firing on all cylinders offensively. We're being unselfish and looking for guys who are hot."
-- Dudley.

THE STAT: The Suns shot 56 percent, including 47 percent on 3-pointers.

TURNING POINT: The Suns, behind the sizzling shooting of Frye and Dudley outscored the Jazz 20-7 at the close of the half. That turned a 46-33 deficit into a 53-53 deadlock. It also helped the Suns overcome a 20-3 run by the Jazz that ended early in the second quarter, a spurt that have the Jazz a 35-22 lead.

QUOTABLE II: "A good win. But we have to get back to what we were doing defensively...way too many points (given up) in the paint (64). The last two games have been a little alarming."
-- Suns coach Alvin Gentry.

HOT: Gortat shot 10-for-12.

NOT: The Jazz' Josh Howard shot just 3-for-12.

FANTASY SPOTLIGHT: Dudley is enjoying the best stretch of his career. He's scored 17-plus in five straight games, the first time he's done so. In these five games, he's averaged 20.6 points on 54 percent shooting.

GOOD MOVE: The Suns decided to go all-in with winning instead of also trying to develop Markieff Morris, their rookie forward who appeared to run out of gas weeks ago. Hakim Warrick served as the only backup to starting "four" man Frye. Morris shot just 2-for-19 his last five games.

BAD MOVE: Both teams lost their cool, running up four technicals (even though the ref crew was obviously not going to listen to complaints). For the Jazz, guard Devin Harris and coach Ty Corbin were teed-up, along with Suns guard Brown and Gentry.

ROOKIE WATCH: The Jazz' Enes Kanter shot 4-for-5 for eight points plus five boards in 11 minutes.

NOTABLE: The Suns have won their last six home games in which they've had a double-digit deficit. This has all been done in the past two weeks.

UP NEXT: For the Jazz, Thursday vs. Timberwolves, Saturday vs. Warriors and Sunday @ Los Angeles Lakers. For the Suns, Thursday at Los Angeles Clippers, Friday vs. Pistons and Sunday vs. Rockets.

• Jazz: Carroll
• Suns: --

• Jazz: Corbin, Harris
• Suns: Brown, Gentry

• Lead Changes: 7
• Times Tied: 11

• Arena: US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ
• Officials: #63 Derek Richardson, #23 Jason Phillips, #56 Mark Ayotte
• Attendance: 14076
• Duration: 2:09