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Suns beat Bucks at home, again

Jan 9, 2012 - 5:37 AM Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - Marcin Gortat led seven Suns in double figures with 18 points, as Phoenix crushed the Bucks, 109-93, at US Airways Center.

The outcome was not surprising, considering Milwaukee has not won in Phoenix since February 21, 1987 -- a span of 24 games.

The Suns won back-to-back games for the first time this season using a balanced attack and a dominating third quarter during which they outscored the Bucks 34-19.

Steve Nash orchestrated the offense to the tune of 17 assists and 10 points, Channing Frye added 16 points, while Shannon Brown and Grant Hill chipped in 14 points apiece in the blowout.

Tobias Harris led Milwaukee with 15 points off the bench after the Bucks' starters combined to shoot 35 percent from the field in closing out a winless five-game road trip.

"To go winless on a road trip is always a disappointment, but we have to figure out ways to bounce back," Bucks center Drew Gooden said.

Nash assisted on nine of the Suns' first 10 field goals and made their other basket en route to a 22-12 lead midway through the first quarter.

Phoenix held a 30-25 lead heading to the second and ended the half on a 12-4 run -- sparked by consecutive three-pointers by Frye -- for a 57-47 halftime cushion.

The Suns put the game away by hitting 14-of-20 from the field in the third stanza. A 13-2 run highlighted by three-pointers from Markieff Morris and Hill extended Phoenix's stranglehold to 87-60 with 3 1/2 minutes to showing.

Both benches were emptied in the fourth quarter, which began with the Suns holding a 91-66 advantage.

"I think for the second straight game we were able to sit (Steve Nash) the whole fourth quarter," Suns head coach Alvin Gentry said. "Any rest that those guys can get, especially Steve and Grant (Hill) is good."

Game Notes

The Bucks are 0-6 on the road...Andrew Bogut missed the entire Bucks road trip for personal reasons and his return is unknown...The Suns also had a 24-game win streak against the Sacramento Kings from 1988-98...Morris logged 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Jared Dudley rounded out Phoenix's double-digit scorers with 11 points...The Suns shot 10-of-22 from behind the arc.