Marcin Gortat powers Phoenix Suns over Houston Rockets 112-105 – NBA Recap
For the 8th time in the last 13 games, Phoenix Suns made a huge recovery in the 2nd half to nail the match. This time the Suns were marshalled by Marcin Gortat, who had 20 points and 15 rebounds in a 112-105 victory at the Toyota Center.
The win revitalized the playoffs hopes of the Suns and now they are just 1 game behind Hosuton Rockets for the final 8th spot in Western Conference.
Jared Dudley scored 19 points for Suns while talisman Steve Nash collected 18 points and 10 assists. Nash really didn’t get going in the first half, but caught fire in the second.
"We were pretty disappointed with the first half, we gave up a lot of offensive rebounds," Nash said. "We definitely wanted to make that right in the second half and give ourselves a chance to win."
Reserve Michael Redd poured in 13 and Sebastian Telfair collected 12 also coming off the bench. Guard Shannon Brown had 10 as the Suns continue to charge towards the post season.
Rockets grabbed 18 rebounds in the 1st half and Suns coach Alvin Gentry was infuriated. He took it all down on Marcin Gortat during the half time. Picturing the incident post game, Gortat said;
"At halftime, we just got yelled at [by Coach Alvin Gentry]. ... It's been one of our strengths since the All-Star break that we're always coming out hard in the second half. We came out quicker, and I guess Houston relaxed a little bit."
Rockets, still on the 8th playoffs spot, rolled down to a 2 game losing streak and their current position has been jeopardized after this defeat. Despite the fact they had 1st half lead and 5 players in double figure index, they couldn’t hold off the Suns in the 2nd half.
Goran Dragic tallied a team high 22 points and Luis Scola had 21. Centre Marcus Camby became Suns night mare after grabbing 18 rebounds in the 1st half he also had 14 points. He was disappointed at his team for their effort in the 2nd half.
"We just played a real bad second half”.
Chase Budinger netted 13 coming off the bench and he knew how crucial these games are for them.
"These games are coming up, and each one has more importance right now,"
Guard Kyle Lowry recorded 11 points and 7 assists in Phoenix 27th defeat of this shortened season.
Rockets built a 12-9 lead midway into the opening frame but Suns reduced the gap to18-17 shortly afterwards. However Houston capped off the segment after reeling a 10-4 run and claimed a 28-21 advantage.
The game remained close in the 2nd but Phoenix remained fruitless in harnessing the lead as a result with 2:35 in hand the hosts were leading the scores with 49-43 advantage. Suns trimmed that down to 55-51 by the end of 1st half.
Nash and company erupted in the 3rd as they reeled of a 9-2 spurt and changed hands 60-57 early in the stanza. Rockets could only reduce the gap to 69-67 before the away side blasted another12-2 run. They entered into the decisive frame confidently with an 81-69 advantage.
Then there was no looking back for suns they cruised through the 4th maintaining their double digit lead. As with 4:14 to expire they were enjoying a 99-89 advantage. Rockets however refused to go down without a fight and trimmed down the lead to 105-100 late into the frame. Suns though executed well down the stretch to pocket the 112 – 105 win.
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