Phoenix ? Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns got the best of Jason Kidd and the New Jersey Nets in a matchup of perhaps the best two point guards in the NBA.
Amare Stoudemire scored 33 points on 13-for-16 shooting, and Nash had a season-high 30 points Sunday night to lead Phoenix to a 113-105 victory over the Nets, snapping the Suns’ six-game losing streak.
“It seemed kind of unnatural for us to be on a six-game losing streak this year,” Stoudemire said. “But I knew it was a matter of time for us to get back to where we were. We’ve just got to stay focused, and keep up the good work.”
Nash, playing his second game after missing 3 1/2 games because of thigh and back injuries, was 5-of-6 from 3-point range and had nine assists.
“It didn’t feel like a season high,” Nash said. “I just kind of picked my spots and had a really good rhythm from 3 tonight. It was nice to make some shots because we didn’t really have our legs under us tonight or play our best.”
Phoenix coach Mike D’Antoni thought it was an uneven performance.
“Spots of good basketball, but just spots,” he said. “We have to get more consistent.”
Vince Carter scored 32 points, and Kidd had 23 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the Nets, who did not arrive in Phoenix until 10 a.m. because of the blizzard in the Northeast. They had their season-best three-game winning streak snapped in the first of five in a row on the road.
Nets coach Lawrence Frank understands how important Nash is to the Suns.
“Jason and him are just elite point guards,” Frank said. “You can see the difference in our team with Jason back, and the people in Phoenix have seen what the Suns are with or without Steve Nash. Those guys, they’re priceless. They just make everybody better.”
Stoudemire made his first eight shots and 13 of 14 before missing two in a row in the fourth quarter.
Quentin Richardson scored 20 points, including 5-of-10 on 3s, for Phoenix. Joe Johnson added 15 points, and Shawn Marion had 10 points and 13 rebounds. Rodney Buford scored 16 points for the Nets, but was 1-of-7 in the second half.
Phoenix blew a 17-point fourth-quarter lead in a 128-123 overtime loss to San Antonio on Friday night, and lost most of a 15-point second-half advantage Sunday.
“I don’t think we fully have our confidence back,” Nash said. “They’re a veteran team too and made some big plays. But we’re just still trying to build our confidence again and get our rhythm again.”
The Suns, who leave Monday for a season-high six-game road trip, made five 3-pointers, two apiece for Nash and Richardson, in a 19-2 outburst that erased a five-point deficit and made it 76-64 with 6:02 to go in the third quarter. The run reached 20-4 on Stoudemire’s inside power move that made it 80-66 with 5:44 left in the period.
“When we get one of those runs going,” Richardson said, “it can be real exciting.”
Richardson’s third 3-pointer of the quarter gave the Suns an 86-71 lead with 1:38 left. But Kidd sank a pair from long range, one of them for 3, to cut it to 89-78 going into the fourth quarter.
“They have shooters everywhere,” Kidd said. “In the third quarter, they caught fire and that’s when the separated themselves, but we didn’t quit.”
New Jersey scored the first seven in the fourth quarter and was down only 89-85 after Buford sank two of three free throws with 10:15 to play. Phoenix scored the next eight, four by Nash, to make it 97-85 with 7:31 remaining.
Kidd made three free throws, then hit a 22-footer, to cut it to 97-92 with 6:21 left, but Nash scored on a drive, then threw a perfect fast-break bounce pass to Stoudemire for a stuff. Stoudemire was fouled, and converted the three-point play to boost the lead to 102-92 with 5:47 to play.
New Jersey cut the lead to six late in the game but could get no closer.
Jim Jackson, in his first game for the Suns and first anywhere in nearly a month, scored two points on 1-for-3 shooting and drew five fouls in 17 minutes.
Notes: The Suns made 15 of 30 3-pointers. … All 10 starters reached double figures. … With Nash’s game, all five Phoenix starters have had at least one 30-point game. … Phoenix re-signed forward Paul Shirley on Sunday. He was waived just before the season began. … Frank drew a technical in the third quarter for charging on the court after consecutive blocked shots by Marion and Steven Hunter.
