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TONIGHT'S NOTES |
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The Suns won their third straight game and for the fifth straight time on the road. The Sonics had a three-game winning streak (two at home) snapped.
Phoenix won the season series 2-1, the road team winning all three games.
Phoenix opened the fourth quarter with a 10-0 run to seal the game.
Sonics Coach Nate McMillan was ejected for the first time since 2/24/04 at Utah.
In a game that matched the NBA’s top two teams in terms of 3-pointers, Phoenix shot 10-for-17 (58.8%) from 3-point range, the Sonics 3-for-27 (11.1%). The Sonics percentage is a season low.
Ray Allen (27) and Rashard Lewis (26) combined to score 53 of the Sonics 99 points. Lewis added 11 rebounds for his sixth double-double.
Jerome James (12) scored double-figures for the third time in his last four games. James is averaging 11.3 points in that stretch. He shot 6-for-9 from the field.
Vladimir Radmanovic shot 2-for-13 and missed all eight of his three attempts.
Joe Johnson led the Suns with a season-high-tying 30 points, one off his career high of 31 points. Johnson made all five of his 3-point attempts and shot 11-for-18.
Steve Nash (12 points, 10 assists) recorded his 34th double-double. Shawn Marion (18 points, 10 rebounds) recorded his 37th double-double
Nick Collison left the game with a broken nose during the second quarter. He did not return.
The Sonics opened the second half with a 13-2 run to take the lead after trailing by 10 at half.
Both teams are now better on the road than at home (Seattle 21-9/20-8, Phoenix 22-7/24-7).
The Suns improved to 19-3 this season when they hold opponents under 100 points.
Phoenix outscored the Sonics by six points during Steve Nash’s 14 minutes on the bench.
The Sonics sold out KeyArena for the 15th time this season.
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March 6, 2005
SONICS COACH 
NATE MCMILLAN:
On whether this is a tough loss:
It’s a loss. We didn’t shoot the ball well. Defensively, we didn’t control anybody in that first quarter. We had open looks that we’ve got to knock down that were pretty easy looks for us, as far as the way they were defending, double-teaming the post. We’ve got to knock down those looks, 3-for-27 from the 3. Either you’re open in a situation like that or you need to drive, so I’m assuming without watching tape that they were open looks and if they were, we’ve got to knock down those shots.
On what the Sonics need to do better on defense:
We’ve got to control the tempo. Most of their points were coming in the paint. You’ve got to control the ball, keep them out of the paint and force them to shoot over you. I think they had 20-some points in the paint early in the first quarter.
On this being a tough loss:
All losses are frustrating. It’s tough. All games should be the same. It doesn’t matter that this is the end of the series. You go out and play the game to win. If you win, you feel good, if you lose, you’re upset about it. Tonight we didn’t shoot the ball well, we didn’t do some things well. Anytime that happens during a game, regardless of the situation, it’s tough to deal with.
On what went wrong on offense:
No ball movement and not a lot of passing, and we didn’t shoot the ball well from the three-point line.
GUARD 
LUKE RIDNOUR:
On the Suns fast break:
We knew they were going to run. We’re one of the best running teams also, but it was a tough game for us. We got to get over it and get ready for the next one.
On moving past this game:
We’ve been doing this all year and every time we lose we come out and play the next game. We’re playing hard, so you can’t fault that. If you play hard, you know you’re going to win games.
On the Sonics poor shooting:
We had good looks, I know I did, it was just one of those games that (they) didn’t fall. That’s when you’ve got to find other ways to win. Unfortunately we couldn’t get those stops when we needed them. We had the looks; we just didn’t knock down the shots like we normally do.
On the Suns:
They have five guys that can shoot and they spread the court. It makes them tough to guard and they handle the ball so well. They’re a tough team.
FORWARD 
VLADIMIR RADMANOVIC:
On the game:
We relied on the 3-point shot too much and tonight they didn’t go in. On the other end of the floor, they did what they wanted with the inside-out game. Too many points in the paint and in transition and that’s what happens.
It was one of those rough days. Some of the open looks we had we just didn’t knock them down. They play really fast no matter if you score or not. They were scoring buckets really early and it was hard for us to find our rhythm. We kind of found it in the fourth quarter, but it was too late.
PHOENIX COACH MIKE D'ANTONI:
On the game:
That was big for us. We are pretty close in the standings so maybe it comes into play and maybe it doesn’t. This was a good game for us. It follows up winning at Dallas and against Detroit, so we have had three good wins in the last couple of weeks and we are playing at a high level.
On Steve Nash:
I think he feels pretty good. I think his play will improve as he gets healthier. I think the biggest thing is the play of (Leandro) Barbosa; it gives me the luxury of sitting him for awhile.
All Steve did is bring 700 kids down from Canada and that helped a lot.
On the importance of the win:
It’s very important and it’s important to keep our swagger. A lot of this game is psychological and we have to believe that we are a good team with or without Nash.
GUARD JOE JOHNSON:
On his performance:
I just tried to create a little bit tonight. I just went out there and tried to play my game. I think they wanted to see if I could make a couple. I ended up making some and it got me into a pretty good rhythm.
On defending 
Ray Allen:
I just tried to stay close and get a hand in his face. I tried to stay close and get a hand up. He made some tough shots tonight.
CENTER AMARÉ STOUDEMIRE:
On the Sonics physical play:
I try not to get involved with it. They are known for coming out and being over aggressive and once you get aggressive back, they will flop on you. There is a lot of false play out there. We just have to keep our heads and stay focused on getting that win.
On the Suns offense:
We just try to score the ball. That’s the name of the game. Tonight, Joe was on fire and they had no answer for him. That’s why we got that win.
2004-05 Postgame Quotes/Notes Archive
