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Starters carry Suns past Jazz

Mar 15, 2012 - 7:14 AM Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - Channing Frye netted a season-high 26 points as the Phoenix Suns downed the Utah Jazz, 120-111, at US Airways Center.

"I was just trying to shoot the shots I usually shoot and trying to play the game the right way," said Frye.

Marcin Gortat added 25 points, Jared Dudley had 21 and Steve Nash finished with 12 points and 16 assists as the Suns finished a four-game homestand with a 3-1 record.

Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson scored 18 points apiece to pace Utah, which lost for the third time in four games. Millsap also pulled down 10 rebounds.

Neither team could gain control in an opening quarter that saw four lead changes and eight ties until Utah closed out the frame with a 10-2 run to take a 30-22 advantage into the second quarter.

The Jazz's lead topped off at 13 on four separate occasions in the second until an 11-0 run by the Suns closed the gap to 46-44 with a little over three minutes to play in the half.

Raja Bell's three-pointer put an end to the spurt and put the Jazz back ahead by five, but Phoenix would stay within two possessions for the remainder of the second quarter until Frye's trey within the closing seconds made it a 53-53 game at the break.

The Suns then took control in the third quarter, opening the frame with a 12-4 run to jump out to a 65-57 advantage.

Millsap snapped the swing with a layup off an offensive rebound, but after the teams traded baskets, a pair of Grant Hill free throws sparked an 8-2 spurt by the Suns to stretch their lead to double digits, 77-65, on Dudley's three- pointer with 4 1/2 minutes left.

Utah could get no closer than seven in the third en route to an 89-82 deficit entering the final frame.

The Jazz opened the fourth with seven straight points to knot the game at 91, but Michael Redd's jumper put the Suns back on top.

Gordon Hayward's field goal on the other end tied the game again before Frye's trey gave Phoenix the lead for good.

Utah would get no closer than three points from there as Phoenix gradually pulled away for the win.

"I'm proud of the guys," Jazz head coach Ty Corbin said. "We played hard, but we just didn't play well enough to win the game."

Game Notes

The Suns improved to 13-10 at home on the year, while Utah fell to 5-16 on the road...Phoenix has won the last six meetings between the teams...The Jazz recorded 20 points off 13 Phoenix turnovers...Utah turned the ball over 12 times, resulting in 18 Phoenix points.