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Suns hope to have Nash back in Charlotte

Nov 20, 2010 - 3:51 PM (Sports Network) - Steve Nash hopes to shake a nagging groin injury when the Phoenix Suns resume a four-game road trip tonight against the Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena.

Nash did not play in Thursday's 105-89 loss at Orlando because of the issue and is listed as questionable tonight but is expected to play. His backup Goran Dragic had 10 points, four assists and four rebounds for the Suns, who were down by as many as 32 points against the Magic and have lost the first two installments of their trek after winning three in a row.

"Playing without Steve was tough, and we got off to such a terrible start, turning the ball over. We never really got into any kind of rhythm," said Suns head coach Alvin Gentry. "You have to make a choice against this team. We don't have the size to guard Dwight on the inside so we had to double-team him, and then they rotated the ball and made three-pointers."

Since Nash joined the Suns back in 2004-05, the team is just 9-18 when the two-time former MVP is sidelined and a gaudy 329-148 when he plays.

Grant Hill scored 21 points to pace Phoenix, which was coming off Wednesday's 123-96 loss in Miami. The Suns will also visit Houston and are 3-4 away from the desert this season.

Charlotte, meanwhile, is coming off a loss to a talented Miami team in SOuth Beach last night. LeBron James poured in 32 points in that one as the Heat beat the Bobcats, 95-87, despite blowing a 21-point lead.

Stephen Jackson led the way with 30 points for the Charlotte while Nazr Mohammed had 12 points and Shaun Livingston 10.

"We were much more solid (in the second half)," Bobcats coach Larry Brown said. "We had 11 turnovers in the first half, four in the second. We executed better, but we didn't finish."

The Bobcats swept a home-and-home series with Phoenix a year ago, but the Suns have won nine of the 12 meetings between the teams. Phoenix has lost two straight after winning its first four at Charlotte.