Phoenix Proves You Can Always Go Home; Beat Nets to End 4-Game Skid

Written by Joseph Tames Wednesday, 20 January 2010 22:52

Phoenix, Ariz.—January 20, 2010. The Phoenix Suns couldn’t wait to get home after going 0-4 on their last road trip. After toying with the New Jersey Nets for the first half of the game, the Suns opened up a big lead and kept it this time, winning 118-94 at US Airways Center.

While the talk of the arena was the sudden downfall of the Suns, many were focused on twin brothers Robin and Brook Lopez. The Suns’ Robin and the Nets’ Brook started the game against each other, only the fourth time such an occurrence had happened. Pau Gasol of the Los Angeles Lakers and brother Marc of the Memphis Grizzlies were the last twins to start against each other, back in April 2009. Brothers Jason Collins (then with the Nets) and Jarron (currently with the Suns) started twice against each other; once in 2006 and once in 2007.

The Suns had trouble in the first quarter with the Nets, who game into this game with only three wins against 37 losses this year. Eight and a half minutes into the game, the Suns were holding onto a two-point lead. But Phoenix went on a 9-2 run and finished the quarter up 32-26. Robin Lopez, starting in his second consecutive game, finished the first quarter with 10 points and four rebounds. Amar’e Stoudemire also had 10 points and Steve Nash, needing only 18 assists for eighth-place on the NBA’s All-Time Assist list, had eight assists.

The Nets, who looked at the trouble the Suns have had and probably came into this game thinking they had a chance to win, took the lead on a 9-2 run of their own to open the second quarter. The Suns and Nets went through four lead changes over the next seven minutes before Phoenix finished the half with a seven-point lead.

The second half belonged to the Suns. Behind Stoudemire’s 13 points and four rebounds, Phoenix built upon their first half lead by six points. Even with the Nets’ Lopez scoring 15 points and grabbing five rebounds of his own, New Jersey could get no closer than four points.

Fans held their breath as the Suns started the fourth. Several times this year Phoenix has built 12-24 point leads only to give them back, in most cases losing the game. This time, however, the Suns used a suffocating defense to put out any hopes the Nets had. Phoenix held New Jersey to 26 percent shooting from the field, while shooting 61 percent themselves. The Suns’ Jason Richardson, relegated to the bench by head coach Alvin Gentry for the second straight game, scored 15 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter.

Stoudemire led all scorers with 27 points. Richardson had 26 points and Robin Lopez finished with 20 points. Stoudemire, Richardson and Lopez all ended with seven rebounds each. Nash scored 12 points and dished out 15 assists, leaving him three shy of eighth-place. He also had five rebounds. Stoudemire had three of the Suns’ seven blocked shots for the game.

The Nets’ Brook Lopez had 26 points and 13 rebounds. Yi Jianlan finished with 14 points and six rebounds. Devin Harris and Jarvis Hayes each had 11 points. Harris handed out seven assists. Kris Humphries and Terrence Williams each had seven rebounds.

Phoenix (25-18) plays another home game on Friday, January 22, against the Chicago Bulls. Tipoff is 8:30 pm MST.

The New Jersey Nets (3-38) next travel to Oakland to play the Golden State Warriors. Tipoff is 10:30 pm EST.