By Stefan Swiat, Suns.comPosted: Jan. 13, 2012
With co-captains Steve Nash and Grant Hill nursing injuries on the Suns bench Friday night, the Suns never seemed to find their stride, falling 110-103 against the visiting Nets.
In the club’s first set of back-to-back home games this season, the Suns went 0-2, dropping to 4-7 on the season. Pacing the Suns’ offense was Marcin Gortat, who tallied 20 points and 10 rebounds, his fourth double-double of the season.
Aiding on the offensive end was Jared Dudley and Ronnie Price, who each scored 18, while Channing Frye added 15 points. Shannon Brown rounded out all the other Suns in double figures with 11.
Statistically, the Suns outperformed the Nets in nearly every category save the three-point line, giving up 47-percent shooting to the Nets.
"We tried to get back to the (Nets' three-point shooters), but when they run the screen-and-roll you can't just leave a guy rolling to the basket completely open," Suns Head Coach Alvin Gentry said. "So we have to adjust our defense and try to get back and recover, but you have to give them credit, they jumped up and shot them in."
Phoenix embarks on a five-game road trip that tips off on Sunday in San Antonio.
Price Is RIght
With Steve Nash missing Friday’s game against the Nets, giving Ronnie Price his first start since February 22, 2010. Price was matched up against the very point guard he used to back up in Utah, Deron Williams.
Price still has an incredible amount of respect for Williams, calling he and teammate Steve Nash the Top 2 point guards in the NBA.
“He doesn’t have many weaknesses,” he said of Williams. “He can shoot, pass, and defend when he wants to.”
Price also said that D-Will knows how to use his body, drawing contact up until the point where he needs to make the basket. At that point, Price said that Williams develops a sense of “weightlessness” where the defender loses track of him in the air, drawing a foul.
Price filled in for Nash admirably in his first Suns start, posting a career-high 18 points and a season-high eight assists on 7-of-11 shooting in 32 minutes.
On the Mend
Banged up physically, both Nash and Hill sat out of. Nash was suffering from a right quad contusion, while Hill was ailing from a right quad tendon strain.
Friday the 13th
Coming into Friday, the Suns were 10-2 all-time in Friday the 13th games at home. In fact, they had won four straight before falling to the Nets.
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