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Suns rally to beat Raptors

Mar 24, 2011 - 5:54 AM Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - Aaron Brooks came off the bench to score 25 points, and the Phoenix Suns rallied from 13 points down in the third quarter to beat the Toronto Raptors for the 14th straight time, 114-106.

Despite coming off a triple-overtime loss to the Lakers on Tuesday night, the Suns still had the legs to overcome a six-point deficit with 4:25 remaining in the game.

"I thought it was our best win of the year," said Suns head coach Alvin Gentry. "That was a total team effort."

Steve Nash and Channing Frye scored seven points apiece in the fourth quarter and finished with 16 and 14, respectively, as Phoenix won for the third time in four games

The Suns, however, remained three games behind Memphis for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference because the Grizzlies beat the Celtics earlier on Wednesday.

Andrea Bargnani scored a game-high 27 points for Toronto, but the Raptors fell for the fourth time in six games.

The Raptors haven't beaten Phoenix since February 10, 2004. And if there was ever a night to end the streak, this was it.

The Suns lost a 139-137 heartbreaker in Los Angeles despite seven players scoring in double digits. With little time to rest before facing Toronto, they trailed 32-26 after the first quarter and 61-55 at halftime.

The Raptors, behind nine points from Bargnani in the third quarter, only tightened their grip after that. They went ahead by 13 when their 7-foot center knocked down a three-pointer to make it 82-69 with 4:34 remaining in the quarter.

Still trailing by 13, Phoenix used a 15-2 run at the end of the third to tie the game at 86-86 heading into the fourth.

The Suns needed one more rally, however, after DeMar DeRozan's dunk gave Toronto a 103-97 lead at the end of an 11-2 burst. Nash drilled a three- pointer at the other end to start an 8-0 run that pushed Phoenix ahead.

Marcin Gortat added a layup and Jared Dudley canned a timely three-pointer to make it 105-103 Suns. Bargnani's jumper tied it, but Gortat followed with another layup to give Phoenix the lead for good.

Brooks extended the advantage to 110-105 on a three-pointer and the Raptors scored just one more point after that.

"We did a pretty decent job until the end of the game," said Toronto reserve Leandro Barbosa, who scored 14. "We just didn't knock down shots that we should have and they took over."

Game Notes

Toronto's Jerryd Bayless received a flagrant 2 foul after an altercation with Frye in the fourth quarter. Both players were whistled for technicals...Gortat had 15 points, while Dudley and Vince Carter added 13 apiece for Phoenix...DeRozan had 19 points...The Suns started a three-game homestand that also includes visits from the Hornets and Mavericks...The Raptors are 1-2 on five-game road trip that also includes visits to play the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers.