Newsroom Notes: Suns Deep-Six Sixers

After a back-and-forth affair that saw nine lead changes in the first half alone, Phoenix distanced itself from Philadelphia in the fourth quarter before pulling away for a 126-116 home victory Wednesday. After leading by as many as 11 in the first half, the Suns went into halftime trailing by three.

The Suns allowed the Sixers to shoot 61 percent in the first half, but cooled slightly in the second half to finish shooting 55 percent for the night. Phoenix, which shot 54 percent in the first half, shot 57 percent for the game, while outscoring the Sixers by 30 in the paint. Phoenix also earned 18 more second-chance points than Philadelphia.

“We played with a lot of energy,” Nash said. “They’re a difficult team to beat and I thought we had some struggles throughout the game but we always overcame them with energy and our commitment tonight. So I feel pleased with our performance.”

With Leandro Barbosa leaving the game with a hyperextended left knee in the second quarter, the Suns needed to find scoring elsewhere. After only totaling two points in the first half, Jason Richardson scored 14 in the third and nine in the fourth period to end up with 25 points. Richardson converted on 9-of-16 shots from the floor and 5-of-6 from the line.

“I told him with LB out that he really needed to step up,” Barbosa said. “I thought Jason did a great of stepping up and doing some good things for us."

Shaquille O’Neal led all scorers with 26 points on 12-of-18 shooting, while pulling down 11 rebounds and blocking two shots. Steve Nash tallied 24 points and 10 assists, while Grant Hill added 21 points, six rebounds, two steals and superb defense on the Sixers’ Andre Iguodala.

With four Suns players totaling more than 20 points apiece, it marked the second consecutive game that Phoenix had accomplished that feat. It marks the first time in Suns history that four Phoenix players have scored 20 points or more in two straight regulation games.

The Suns moved to 33-5 when leading headed into the fourth quarter and remain four games behind the Mavericks in the Western Conference standings.

“It doesn’t matter to us right now about watching the scoreboard or anything like that, we just have to win games, take care of business and we’ll see what happens at the end,” Gentry said.

The Sixers had won four straight coming into tonight, including a buzzer-beating victory over the Western Conference-leading Lakers last night. Second-year man Thaddeus Young and veteran point guard Andre Miller led the Sixers with 23 points apiece. They currently sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference.

Barnes-storming

Statistically speaking, Matt Barnes is having the best year of his career. The six-year vet is posting career highs in points, rebounds and assists per game.

Currently, the former UCLA star is averaging 10.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Since moving into the starting lineup again, he’s scored over 20 points in four of his last nine games.

Coming into Wednesday’s contest, Barnes has averaged 18.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.9 assists in nine of those last 10 games. His 26 starts this season is the most he’s ever had in his career, surpassing his previous high of 23 games started in 2006-07.

When former Warriors teammate Jason Richardson was asked if this season was Barnes’ best, he agreed.

“He had a great year that year in Golden State too though,” Richardson said. “He’s been doing everything; defending, rebounding, doing things to help us win. He knows how to play.”

The key for Barnes has been his placement in the starting lineup with Amar’e Stoudemire out with an injured eye. As an undersized power forward, he’s been able to draw bigger players out to him and shoot over them if they sag into the lane.

But for Richardson, it’s not so much his position that helps him, but the energy he brings to the team.

“He’s like a kid out there that’s always into something,” Richardson said. “He’s always got his hands in on every play. He’s very active.”

Dudley’s 'Do

After six years in cornrows, Jared Dudley decided that it was time to re-invent his hair style. The Suns forward decided to cut his hair close to the dome yesterday, giving him a fresh look that hasn’t been seen since before he attended Boston College.

So what was his motivation?

“It’s a new look and a new role and hopefully I keep it going,” he said.

After nine rebounds, two rebounds and two assists off the bench in the Suns’ win over the Sixers, it seemed as if the move has paid dividends.

“I feel a little lighter,” Dudley joked.” Four baskets, four drives to the hoop. I don’t know if I feel lighter but I feel better.“

Dudley said that he had grown tired of trips to the salon and the hassle involved with braiding his hair. He also said the decisions of Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony to rid themselves of the ‘rows sort of motivated him.

Whatever is motivating him, is working. The former Golden Eagle is steadily earning more minutes within the Suns’ rotation. Mostly, it’s due to the intelligent basketball decisions he’s been making in limited time.

“I think he’s a really, really smart player,” Gentry said. “He’s one of those guys that doesn’t have to be quick because he can outthink most of the guys he's playing against. Because he knows angles and he’s relentless in what he can do, he can come up with three or four really big plays in a game.”

Dudley just believes that his role as a reserve is to play with higher intensity than a starter. Since there isn’t as much of an opportunity to wear down for a reserve, he believes it’s critical to add a spark to the lineup when he’s inserted into the game.

A self-aware player, Dudley has known for some time that he would need to rely on his wits.

“Ever since I was a baby I always loved sports, I didn’t like cartoons,” he said. “I knew at a young age what my abilities could be. I know I’m not the highest jumper so I had to learn the game, watch film and I’ve been in here working out hard even when I wasn’t playing.”

He feels that he can bring a dimension to the team that they don’t have on the perimeter.

“I fit in perfect with this team because I don’t need a lot of shots,” he said. “I get my little buckets, I can defend, rebound and get the ball to the right people at the right time.”

Coach Gentry has been very pleased with his progress.

“He’s just one of those guys that every coach wants on his team,” Gentry said. “He doesn’t make a whole lot of mistakes and every night he comes up with one or two hustle plays that can really kind of turn the tide of the game.”

Besides helping the team with his play on the court, Dudley will also be helping those in need off of it. The 6-6 forward will be donating the hair that he removed from his head to “Locks of Love.”

“Locks of Love” is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children that suffer from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis.

With unselfishness like that, it appears that not only the Suns will be benifitting from Dudley's generous nature.

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