Steve Nash sank a layup with 5.5 seconds
left, moments after Rasual Butler hit a game-tying three-pointer, to give the
Phoenix Suns a 109-107 win over the Clippers in their season-opener.
Nash finished with 24 points, 15 of which came in the fourth quarter, and his
biggest shot was a left-handed layup in the closing moments of a close game.
The Suns' Leandro Barbosa drained a three-pointer with 23 seconds left, and on
the other end, Butler connected on a three from the top of the arc with 11.9
to play, making it a 107-107 game.
Nash had the ball on Phoenix's ensuing possession, and a fairly wide-open lane
developed on the left side. The point guard drove through it, sinking a high-
arcing left-hander to put the Suns back on top.
The Clippers still had one chance, but Eric Gordon missed the long three-point
attempt as the Suns sealed the win in their first game of the 2009-10
campaign.
"I told our guys we played hard and did a lot of good things, but we missed
some easy shots," Clippers head coach Mike Dunleavy said. "Steve Nash is a
two-time MVP, he was slicing and dicing us in the fourth quarter. You have to
tip your cap to him, he's a great player."
Grant Hill finished with 19 points and 13 rebounds for the Suns, who went
46-36 last season, snapping a string of four consecutive playoff appearances.
Amare Stoudemire, who missed the last two months of last season with an eye
injury, was back for Phoenix and ended with 16 points. Barbosa ended with 17
points in the victory, while Nash added eight assists.
"This is a big win for our confidence," Nash said. "We scrapped and fought
tonight. You get competitive in the fourth quarter, and I was able to get some
shots to fall for us."
Marcus Camby had 23 points and 11 boards for the Clippers, who were playing in
their home-opener, having already begun the season with a loss to the Lakers
on Tuesday. Chris Kaman added 22 points and nine rebounds, while Butler ended
with 19 points off the bench. Baron Davis contributed 12 points and 12 assists
in the setback.
Gordon had a layup and three-pointer near the end of the first quarter to help
the Clippers take a 31-24 lead into the second, but the Suns began the new
frame with a 13-3 run to grab an advantage.
A three from Barbosa, then a layup and dunk from Earl Clark ended the stretch
to put Phoenix up 37-34 with a little more than eight minutes left. It was
back-and-forth until halftime, and Jared Dudley's layup in the final minute
made it a 53-53 contest at the break.
Near the middle of the third quarter, Kaman capped a six-point LA burst with a
pair of baskets, which put the Clippers ahead 72-62 -- their largest lead of
the night.
But the Suns chipped away, and they closed the frame with a basket each from
Clark and Barbosa, bringing Phoenix within 79-77.
Los Angeles held a lead during the opening minutes of the fourth, and Al
Thornton's basket with nine minutes to play capped a six-point run and
stretched the advantage to 87-80.
Then, with five minutes left, a Camby jumper made it a 98-93 Clippers lead
until the Suns countered with two free throws from Nash and a Hill tip-in. It
was a one-possession game the rest of the way, and Nash's three with 1:40 to
go evened the game, 104-104.
Game Notes
The Suns have won eight of their last nine against the Clippers, having swept
the four-game series last season...Phoenix has won its last three openers on
the road...The Clippers fell to 14-12 in home-openers in LA...Channing Frye
had 12 points for Phoenix, which made 51.3 percent of its shots...Gordon had
16 points, six assists and five rebounds for the Clippers, who shot 55.8
percent from the field, but only 55.6 (15-of-27) from the foul line.
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