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Nash lifts Suns over Clippers

Mar 21, 2011 - 3:24 AM Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Steve Nash finished with a game-high 23 points to go along with 13 assists as the Suns topped the Clippers, 108-99, at Staples Center.

Channing Frye connected on five shots from three-point range, finishing with 19 points, and Marcin Gortat posted 17 points and 13 rebounds in a reserve role. Jared Dudley added 14 points and six rebounds while Hakim Warrick added 12 points for the victors.

"I am happy with the way we played," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. "We were able to take away some of their plays. All and all our defense was good today."

The Suns have now won consecutive games and 10 of their previous 11 with the Clippers.

Chris Kaman posted 21 points and 11 rebounds in a starting role, just his ninth of the season. The Clippers reserve center got the start because DeAndre Jordan missed the game with a mild case of pneumonia.

Mo Williams added 18 points, seven rebounds and seven assists while Blake Griffin scored 17 before fouling out late in the game. LA has now lost three of four overall.

Leading 81-78 entering the fourth, the Suns started the quarter on an 8-0 run, capped by a Zabian Dowdell jumper just inside nine minutes remaining. The Suns widened their lead to 95-82 just past the mid point on a pair of Warrick free throws and a Gortat jumper.

Griffin fouled out with 4:09 remaining when he was called for a questionable offensive charge. The Clippers forward was also called for a technical after the call for debating the topic with the officials.

Nash connected on the technical free throw, but the Clippers responded with a pair of Williams free throws and a Kaman layup and conversion to get within 98-89. A Frye three a little later pushed Phoenix's advantage back to double-digits, and it never fell below seven down the stretch.

Nash paced the Suns with 10 points on 4-of-6 from the field in the first quarter as Phoenix held a 27-23 lead after 12 minutes.

"He's a heck of a player. He has so many different things he can do on the court," Kaman said of Nash.

Both teams shot over 50 percent from the field in the second as Phoenix took a 54-49 lead into the break.

Griffin scored 10 of his 17 points in the third quarter as the Clippers trimmed the Phoneix lead to 81-78 entering the final stanza.

Game Notes

The Suns will complete a two-game LA road trip against the Lakers on Tuesday; they snapped a three-game skid on the road with the win...The Clippers are 1-2 on a four-game residency that will conclude with a visit from the Wizards on Wednesday...Phoenix was 10-of-22 from beyond the arc, 9-of-20 for the Clippers...Eric Gordon finished with 10 points while Randy Foye scored 13 in a reserve role.