Sacramento at Phoenix

[Real Deal]

TIME: 8:00 PM ET

TV: NBALP

[Real Deal]

The Phoenix Suns have made the most of their longest homestand of the season.

 

With that six-game stretch about to end, the Suns look to match a season high with a third consecutive victory Sunday night against the Sacramento Kings.

 

Phoenix (16-20) was mired in a four-game losing streak when it opened this homestand, which surrounded the All-Star break, with a 102-90 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 19. The Suns have won four of five in a stretch that concludes Sunday.

 

"We have got to take advantage of every situation as far as playing at home," coach Alvin Gentry told the Suns' official website.

 

Jared Dudley scored 22 points and Marcin Gortat added 18 with 14 rebounds as the Suns rallied from an early 11-point deficit to beat the Clippers 81-78 on Friday despite shooting 35.0 percent. It was the Suns' lowest field-goal percentage in a win since shooting 33.3 percent during a 78-74 victory over Cleveland on Nov. 1, 2002.

 

While the offense struggled, Phoenix held Los Angeles to 36.8 percent shooting. Channing Frye had just six points and missed all but two of his 18 shots, but he posted 14 rebounds and helped hold Clippers star Blake Griffin to season-worst 6-of-19 shooting.

 

"If we are not going to shoot the ball well then the only thing that can keep us in the game is our defense," said Gentry, whose team is 9-9 at home.

 

The Suns have held their last five opponents to 91.4 points per game on 42.0 percent shooting, including 27.6 percent from 3-point range. That is a major improvement for a Phoenix club that had allowed visitors to US Airways Center to make 40.7 percent of their 3s before that.

 

Sacramento (12-24) has shot 29.8 percent from beyond the arc while going 4-18 on the road in 2011-12. The Kings, however, went 6 of 13 on 3s while ending a 10-game skid at Phoenix with a 113-108 win in their most recent visit Feb. 13, 2011.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/preview/NBA_20120304_SAC@PHO

[Built Ford Tough]

PHOENIX -- Falling behind has become a habit for the Phoenix Suns. In the last three games, so has winning.

 

Steve Nash had 19 points, Marcin Gortat scored 14 and matched his season high with 17 rebounds, and the Suns won their third in a row with a 96-88 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night.

 

In all three wins, the Suns rallied from double-digit deficits, something the franchise hadn't done since November 2002.

 

Jared Dudley scored eight of his 14 in the fourth quarter, when Phoenix pulled away. Shannon Brown added 13, including consecutive 3-pointers in the decisive run to open the final period.

 

Marcus Thornton scored 23 and Tyreke Evans 17 for Sacramento. DeMarcus Cousins added 16 points and 14 rebounds, but the Kings shot just 33 percent in the second half to fall to 4-19 on the road.

 

The three consecutive victories since the All-Star break, all at home, matched Phoenix's longest win streak of the season.

 

Nash said the team's first-half struggles trace to its long layoff during the break.

 

"We had seven days off, a lot longer than a lot of people," he said, "and I just feel like we're still trying to shake the rust off in the first half of games. We feel a little better, a little more comfortable and make more plays in the second half."

 

Overall, the Suns have won five of six.

 

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20120304_SAC@PHO

[Make It Naaaashty]

On a good roll with some solid wins lately. Our defense has been beyond impressive but to be honest I highly doubt we'll be able to get that 8th spot. But who knows with the way we are playing right now.