Nash rallies Suns to 109-107 win over Clippers

By BETH HARRIS, AP Sports Writer Oct 29, 2:20 am EDT

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LOS ANGELES (AP)—Mike D’Antoni is gone to the New York Knicks, yet some of the Phoenix Suns are still playing as if he’s coaching them.

Steve Nash(notes) scored 15 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, when he rallied the Suns to a 109-107 season-opening victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night.

Grant Hill(notes) had 19 points and 13 rebounds, Leandro Barbosa(notes) added 17 points, Amare Stoudemire 16 and Channing Frye(notes) 12 for the Suns, who won their fifth in a row over the Clippers after a four-game sweep last season.

“Primarily because this was our first game of the season and we’re really not sure how good we can be yet, it was just a big win for our confidence,” Nash said. “We won it with some timely execution and a few stops.”

No one was timelier than Nash.

The Suns trailed by seven early in the fourth before he took over, scoring seven in a row to pull them into a tie at 104 with 1:41 remaining.

After a timeout, Barbosa hit a 3-pointer in front of the Clippers’ bench to put Phoenix ahead 107-104 for the first time since early in the third quarter.

Rasual Butler(notes) answered with a 3-pointer from the top of the key for the Clippers, tying it at 107 with 11 seconds left.

“I had a good look and launched it,” he said. “We were looking at the 3, but if the drive was there we would take the quick two and foul.”

Nash drove through traffic in the lane and hit a layup to put Phoenix back on top 109-107 with 5 seconds to go. He was called for a foul, resulting in the Clippers getting the ball out of bounds, but they couldn’t muster the winning 3.

“I went to the old-white-guy-at-the-YMCA shot and I was lucky to make something happen,” Nash said. “We scrapped, we fought and we swung the ball to L.B. for a big 3 as well. It was a great effort.”

Stoudemire played his first game since Feb. 18, on the same court and against the same opponent. The All-Star forward underwent surgery to repair a detached retina in his right eye, which kept him out of the final 29 games last season.

He, Nash, Barbosa and Hill are among the veteran holdovers from D’Antoni’s era. Among the newcomers are Frye and Earl Clark(notes). The Suns’ running game didn’t materialize with the mix of old and new. Phoenix managed just two points on fast breaks, compared to 16 for the Clippers.

“It would be nice if we could get some easy buckets, but it’s difficult for us sometimes because we’ve got a lot of different players from when Mike D’Antoni was here,” Nash said. “Those days are over, and we’ve got to find a way to kind of pull it back out of ourselves with the new guys and get everyone kind of accustomed to that.”

Marcus Camby(notes) had 23 points and 11 rebounds for Los Angeles, which dropped to 0-2 after losing its opener 99-92 to the NBA champion Lakers a night earlier. Chris Kaman(notes) added 22 points, including six straight over the final 4:02, to keep the Clippers in it until the end.

Eric Gordon(notes) added 16 points, but he missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer with Stoudemire guarding him closely in the closing seconds. Butler scored 19 points and Baron Davis(notes) had 12 points and 12 assists.

“We missed a lot of free throws (15 of 27) and one play I missed a layup,” Gordon said. “They made a lot of plays and made shots.”

The Clippers are two losses into a six-week stretch without No. 1 overall draft pick Blake Griffin(notes), who has a broken left kneecap.

“We need to play with energy, a sense of urgency and some fire,” Butler said. “We need to continue to play hard, defend and make free throws.”

The teams were tied at 53 going into halftime. The Clippers built a 10-point lead midway through the third quarter, but saw it dwindle to two when they were outscored 12-5 to end the third ahead 79-77. The Clippers led by nine in the opening quarter.

NOTES: Dressed in a suit and tie, Blake Griffin addressed the crowd before the game, thanking them for their support and saying, “Hopefully (we) give you a season you won’t forget.” His older brother Taylor, a rookie forward for the Suns, was inactive for the game. … The Griffin brothers’ mother Gail wore a jersey divided down the front with each team’s logo.

Updated Oct 29, 2:20 am EDT
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25 Comments

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  1. <i>murray_33slam</i>
    25. Posted by murray_33slam Fri Oct 30 3:38pm EDT

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    oh by the way clippers 11-16 from the line, lakers 25-37
  2. <i>murray_33slam</i>
    24. Posted by murray_33slam Fri Oct 30 3:15pm EDT

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    hey dee leoni what game were you watching oh i get it you must be a kobe (crybaby) supporter. every time the clippers got close there was a b.s. call by the refs the phantom foul by rasual butler on kobe when the clippers trailed by 1. the mystery offensive goal tending call on jordan when the clippers were close. and some of the out of bounds that were originally call the lakers way the refs had to conference to get it right when clearly a blind man could see it was clippers ball so it could look fair. if you think the game wasn't close let me drop some stats your way 32-22 after one, 59-49 after two looks like an even quarter to me chief. 76-75 after three clippers outscored them by 9 and 99-92 at the end of the game with the lakers having a substantial free throw advantage. how many times did craig smith drive to the basket and nothing was called? what about kobe or bynum or even odom. so take your pathetic lakers i get all the calls (2008) playoffs. and your crooked refs. and learn some knowledge before you come at people with that nonsense. go blazers!!!!!!!!!!!
  3. dan
    23. Posted by dan Fri Oct 30 5:00am EDT

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    the pathetic clippers lose again. they should change their name to something stronger. clippers is like a gay name for an nba team. for as long as their name is the clippers, it will be a losing franchise. or better move out of los angeles as they are damaging the good name of a good city.
  4. beast
    22. Posted by beast Fri Oct 30 4:57am EDT

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    paa ur such a @#$%.....ur proly a gay ass laker fan......cant wait till kobe is gone bro..no more lakers...
  5. Dee Leoni
    21. Posted by Dee Leoni Thu Oct 29 2:27pm EDT

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    The start of yet ANOTHER miserable season for the Clippers.......and now we will get to see just how Mike Baldleavy is going to explain away this season. And anyone who says Tuesday night's game against the Lakers was close is out of their minds.....i was hearing Mike Lawler and Mike Smith talking about how the Clippers "almost " pulled off an upset of the Lakers on their opening night.....I swear their credibility is almost at zero in my book. I feel bad for Mike Lawler because he has to work for the Clippers (he can't get a job anywhere else so he's a lifer) and has to see this garbage every night but Mike Smith is a JOKE of an analyst and they are both such HOMERS that you have to take their analysis at face value. Ralph I will give a pass too because you can tell that he has great character as a person and seems like a real stand up guy but Mike Smith really STINKS UP the Staples Center with his analysis every time the Clippers play........so you got a stinky analyst for a stinky ballclub.......
  6. BULLSFANSINCE7
    20. Posted by BULLSFANSINCE7 Thu Oct 29 2:02pm EDT

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    Keep it up Camby. If he continues to play like tonight. He's an all star in my book.
  7. cakedecorator
    19. Posted by cakedecorator Thu Oct 29 12:45pm EDT

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    I was at the game. The Clippers had bad defense yesterday. They missed their free throws. Gordon missed a lay up late in the game and on top of all that Nash caught fire in the end. I feel confident they will win more games than last year but its frustrating when simple plays are missed. My husband and I have season tix and cant make it to every game so if anyone is interested let me know. biggiepureversed@yahoo.com
  8. BULLSFANSINCE7
    18. Posted by BULLSFANSINCE7 Thu Oct 29 12:38pm EDT

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    lol...you want a ball to kick go play soccer. Never kick a bball nor sit on one.
  9. <i>dj_courvoisier</i>
    17. Posted by dj_courvoisier Thu Oct 29 9:25am EDT

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    Nash is backstabbing? I think you meant Kerr, right, Tony S.?
  10. tony s
    16. Posted by tony s Thu Oct 29 8:12am EDT

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    A win is a win. nash again played great for his age. amare is amare. hill plays hard & should of went to a contender. don't be surprised if the veterans are traded away by seasons end. sad ending for what could have been a contender still. the owner wonders why no one is buying his tickets & he's losing money.
    duh, break up a contender & give the fans an old washed up version of what they once almost were. and yes, nash is a back stabbing, lying, self centered, egotistic excuse for a person. he can't expect anyone wanting to come to the suns with his reputation for getting rid of players. anyways, a win is a win, for phoenix fans,there's your championship.
  11. BULLSFANSINCE7
    15. Posted by BULLSFANSINCE7 Thu Oct 29 6:43am EDT

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    I shared season tickets last year and had great seats Section 111! I even had Kenny Smith sitting behind me. LOL.
  12. BULLSFANSINCE7
    14. Posted by BULLSFANSINCE7 Thu Oct 29 6:24am EDT

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    That's why Charles Barkley knows MJ. You know they're close and you know Sir Charles knows Michael's character. Jordan's hunger and drive to want to demolish and win at everything. That's how you earn RESPECT.

    I respect President Obama 'cause he's a not just our president but a smart intelligent worldly man that knows what he's doing for his nation and our world. He worked hard for his merits and has seen the world in so many different perspectives so he knows how to fix it in more than just the conventional way.
  13. BULLSFANSINCE7
    13. Posted by BULLSFANSINCE7 Thu Oct 29 6:10am EDT

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    You want more fans, play hard. You want endorsements, play hard. You want wins, play hard. You want to be an all star, play hard. You want to be recognized as a great team and not just a sideshow for the champs, play hard. You're struggling on offense focus on your defense.

    Blake Griffin seems to be a no nonsense ball player. Clippers need him.

    Sure, nowadays MJ may act like a jackass but you know what, when he played for the Bulls even after getting all the endorsements from Gatorade, Nike, Wheaties, etc...He still competed each and every night, played his heart out because he wanted to be THE best and not just another all-star.

    He could've given up after the 1993 Finals when the Suns were up by a basket but he didn't even hesitate, drove to basketball and tied the game w/ a layup while almost everyone on the court had thought the game was over.

    That's why his friend/competitor knows that Michael Jordan is one of the greatest players to ever play the game of basketball.

    Bill Russell was a pioneer for the game and I respect him for his humility too.
  14. BULLSFANSINCE7
    12. Posted by BULLSFANSINCE7 Thu Oct 29 5:54am EDT

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    What's up with Baron Davis? Is he planning to retire next year 'cause you know he ain't trying. Take the ball to the goddamn basketball, get physical, make your free throws. That's a fundamental basketball skill that I thought all pro players had.....I can make my free throws without my contacts on and I have bad eyes.
  15. jcoanda
    11. Posted by jcoanda Thu Oct 29 5:28am EDT

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    Once again, the clippers snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
  16. GQ
    10. Posted by GQ Thu Oct 29 2:23am EDT

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    lol at #7. Crippers....might actually is more of a basketball name than the Clippers. Dumbleavy really needs to go. How he is still coaching is really beyond me.
  17. Ronie Mick
    9. Posted by Ronie Mick Thu Oct 29 1:53am EDT

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    Richardson is serving a 2 game suspension for a DUI conviction in the off season.
  18. I have to poop
    8. Posted by I have to poop Thu Oct 29 1:49am EDT

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    Henry H,
    They will NOT win until the worst coach in the history of sports is fired. Dumbassleavy is somehow still coaching in this league. This team has so much friggin talent but the idiot that is leading them knows absolutely nothing about the sport. He is by far the worst coach on any level in any sport in the history of the universe. It is not even close. I honestly cannot believe he is still the coach. What a piece of @#$%.
  19. drusalan
    7. Posted by drusalan Thu Oct 29 1:41am EDT

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    move them to chinatown call them the crippers
  20. Henry H
    6. Posted by Henry H Thu Oct 29 1:32am EDT

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    Clippers lose two super close ones to open the season. Damnation, let's hope they get in the win column soon, along with getting Griffin back. I'm no fan, but it'll be great for the league to see the Clippers improve this year. I believe they can and will.
  21. bd
    5. Posted by bd Thu Oct 29 1:31am EDT

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    why didnt richardson play?
  22. andy
    4. Posted by andy Thu Oct 29 1:29am EDT

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    what is the deal with stoudemire?? everytime he drove to the basket he turned the ball over.
  23. hirvy
    3. Posted by hirvy Wed Oct 28 6:09pm EDT

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    you're an idiot paa.
  24. paa
    2. Posted by paa Wed Oct 28 1:51pm EDT

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    Steve Nash should suck it up about his old coach (Porter) & teammate (O'Neil). Now that his happy everything went his way, he should prove it or eat his words or pride. Looks like Steve Kerr & Alvin Gentry will be Steve Nash's lap dog. Its interesting to find out this season who will keep their position this season.
  25. paa
    1. Posted by paa Wed Oct 28 1:48pm EDT

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    Steve Nash should suck it up about his old coach (Porter) & teammate (O'Neil). Now that his happy everything went his way, he should prove it or eat his words or pride. Looks like Steve Kerr & Alvin Gentry will be Steve Nash's lap dog. Its interesting to find out this season who will keep their position this season.
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Top Performers

 Top Performers
 Phoenix
S. Nash Steve Nash
9-15,  24 Pts
1 Rebs, 8 Assists
 LA Clippers
M. Camby Marcus Camby
10-15,  23 Pts
11 Rebs, 3 Assists

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