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In what was a tough match-up against a young, confident Detroit Pistons team, the Phoenix Suns had their work cut out for them tonight as they won a hard fought battle at home 109-101 to end their back-to-back-to-back stretch with a 3-0 record. More importantly though, the Suns were finally able to reach the vaunted .500 mark on the season at 22-22, returning to relevance, and now officially in the playoff hunt!
The Suns are now 8-2 since the All-Star break and playing with much more confidence overall and consistency in the second unit which has really bolstered the team. Detroit gave a valiant effort with the very talented back court of both Rodney Stuckey scoring 23 points and dishing out 8 assists, along with Brandon Knight who scored 17 points along with his 6 assists as well.
The leading scorer for the Suns tonight was Jared Dudley who scored 23 points and 7 rebounds on hot shooting and tons of hustle. But make no mistake about it, this was a total team effort tonight with big contributions from just about everyone who saw the floor. Steve Nash dished out a season high tying 17 assists, Channing Frye had a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds, Marcin Gortat had 16 points and 5 rebounds, Grant Hill pitched in with 14 points, and even big Robin Lopez took over in the fourth quarter with 14 points and 4 rebounds.
Full game recap coming tomorrow morning. For now enjoy the win Suns fans, and read on after the jump to see the game notes!
Game Notes
First Quarter:
Gortat comes out with an immediate P&R bucket off a Nash feed…Ahhh, back to normal!
Grant with a block and then a steal that leads to a Dudley 3!
Dudley staying HOT!!! 2nd 3 already
As for Frye…not so much. 0-2 on wide open 3’s to start the game…But he has 6 rebounds already so he’s earning his time
Brandon Knight now with two 3’s as well…and then sticks a two to lead the Pistons with 8 points so far
Knight hits another jumper..now with 10
The Nash-Gortat machine is well oiled and working great tonight! Gortat with 6 points so far all off the pick and roll with Steve
Beautiful no-look over the head pass from Nash to Dudley who then finishes with a layup…Pure poetry in motion!
Halfway through the first quarter, Dudley is leading the Suns already with 12 points, Nash has 5 assists and Fry has 7 rebounds…Great contributions! Suns up 25-23
Uh-oh, Gortat gets his second PF early and has to come out…Let’s hope that doesn’t become an issue
Nash with a great feed to a running Robin Lopez who rocks the rim!
Suns lead 31-27 at the end of the 1st quarter. Suns shooting 50%, Pistons 58%. Suns with 15rbs, Pistons with 8rbs. Suns with 2 TO’s, Pistons with 3 TO’s. Dudley leading the Suns with 12 points, Brandon Knight leading the Pistons with 10 points. Nash already with 7 assists
Second Quarter:
Suns bench in to start the 2nd quarter: Telfair, Brown, Redd, Morris, and Lopez
Morris starts off the second quarter with a nice screen and roll with Telfair that he converts to a layup
Morris with a BIG block on Knight who he shadowed all the way to the rim before extinguishing!
Redd comes out and hits his first shot…Nice start for him, let’s hope it’s a good omen!
Lopez tries to get a little too fancy with a behind the back pass and turns the ball over. “A” for effort there Robin, but we should probably leave that to Nash.
Suns reserves holding serve so far as Redd drills a three to make it a 38-33 lead.
Well that didn’t last long, a few sloppy possessions by the bench and Stucky getting to the line twice in a row to tie the game at 38 now.
Stucky trying to take the game over now, Detroit on a 12-3 run as Stucky powers in for the and-1. Gentry has seen enough and brings in Frye in place of Morris who despite a great start has air-balled his last shot and committed a bad foul.
Now Dudley comes in for Brown as well.
Redd with another 3! Now has 10 points off the bench
Halfway through the 2nd quarter the Pistons now lead 45-43. Stucky beginning to put his mark on the game with 15 points already. Might be time for Hill to come back in and cool his jets. Telfair hasn’t been able to guard him.
Dudley with an incredible and-1 after getting the offensive rebound…great hustle from Dudz!
Stucky drills another 3 with Dudley guarding him now.
Starters back in but Detroit is pressing on. Frye not able to knock down open shots yet tonight.
Just like that Frye hits a three to make me eat my words…and I’m glad to do it
Knight answers right back though with a three of his own
Frye with a BIG DADDY block that leads to a transition three for Dudley! He has 18 now!
Jerebko hits a three at the other end as the shot clock expires and Detroit holds their lead going into the half
Detroit outscores 32-23 in the 2nd quarter…Uh-oh, let’s hope the Alex rule takes a night off!
Pistons lead 59-54 at the end of the 1st half. Suns shooting 47%, Pistons 57%. Suns with 28rbs, Pistons with 19rbs. Suns with 9 TO’s, Pistons with 7 TO’s. Dudley leading the Suns with 18 points, Rodney Stuckey leading the Pistons with 17 points.
Third Quarter:
Gortat makes a nicve adjustment to hit the floater off a Nash assists to start the 3rd quarter…Now has 10 points.
Nash with a beautiful pass in the air as he whips it behind him to an open Grant Hill who drains the jumper!
Maxiell just posterizes Gortat on a vicious dunk...that was ugly
Detroit still holding their lead so far by hustling and grabbing offensive rebounds…too many second chance shots so far in the early 3rd quarter
Tayshaun Prince is having a nice shooting game so far as well…Suns have to start getting more stops and securing the rebound.
Nash hits an open Grant Hill who punches in another jumper…10 points now for Grant and now 13 assists for Nash!
Halfway through the 3rd quarter the Pistons lead is down to 3 as they lead 71-68. Suns need to increase the intensity on defense and hustle for loose balls and rebounds to take this game back over.
Gortat now 18-14 with 16 points…He’s really come alive in the 3rd quarter
Dudley with another 3 to tie the game at 73-73…Dudz now with 21 points
Gentry mixing in the bench with the starters now rather than substituting the entire unit together…I like this strategy better.
Detroit still hitting their shots at a high percentage…Knight now with 17 points as he drills a 3 over Grant Hill
Morris with a very nice feed to find Brown at the rim for an easy bucket!
Pistons lead 80-79 at the end of the 3rd quarter. Suns shooting 51%, Pistons 52%. Suns with 36rbs, Pistons with 32rbs. Suns with 12 TO’s, Pistons with 13 TO’s. Dudley leading the Suns with 21 points, Rodney Stuckey and Brandon Knight leading the Pistons with 17 points each. Nash has also tied his season high in assists already with 17!
Fourth Quarter:
Telfair, Brown, Redd, Morris, Lopez in to start the fourth quarter…Uh-oh, let’s hope they do better than their 2nd quarter or Gentry may need to switch things up quickly
Lopez gets a quick foul to start the 4th and heads to the line knocking down both free throws to give the Suns a 1 point lead
Lopez then hits a lefty hook! Robin now with 10 points off the bench!
Lopez with a nice follow tip in on a Redd miss….Robin has been the best player for the Suns to start the 4th quarter
Stuckey still hitting big shots to keep the Pistons with a slight lead
Brown with a big 3 to give the Suns the lead
Frye now hits another 3 to give the Suns a two point lead at 95-93 halfway through the 4th quarter…The Suns are in a dog fight and will need to have a strong finish to ice the game.
Suns starters have returned to drive the victory bus to win-ville, except for Lopez who remains in the game
Frye with a huge turnaround 3 as the shot clock ran down…Suns up 100-95
Lopez ices two critical free throws to give the Suns a seven point lead with two minutes left
Frye plays good defense and grabs a critical rebound with 28 seconds left which should ice the game! Frye now with 12 rebounds on the night!
Frye with another rebound as he gets fouled and heads back to the line to close the game…Excellent game for Frye and the Suns as a whole for that matter!
Suns win 109-101! Suns shoot 49%, Pistons 51%. Suns with 51rbs, Pistons with 38rbs. Suns with 13 TO’s, Pistons with 16 TO’s. Dudley led the Suns with 23 points, Rodney Stuckey led the Pistons with 17 points.