Phoenix Suns romp to impressive 106-98 win over Cleveland
The Phoenix Suns and Cleveland Cavaliers both needed wins. However, the Suns can relax temporarily whereas Cavaliers are still desperate for a win. The Phoenix Suns stretched their winning streak to four games with an impressive 106-98 win over Cleveland
Cavaliers on Wednesday night.
As over 20,000 basketball fans chanted his name at the Quicken Loans Arena, Suns Small forward Grant Hill choked back tears. The Suns big man Hill finally had his moment, as he registered a game-high 27 points and 12 rebounds in the victory. The 38-year-old
forward is averaging 24.3 points in the last three games.
Steve Nash played a simple but effective game as he finished with 15 points and 15 assists for the Suns, who have won three straight on the road. Channing Frye ended with 18 points and four boards for the victors. Marcin Gortat played well and totalled a
career-high 16 points and 12 rebounds Phoenix’ 19th win of the 2010-11 season.
Antawn Jamison scored a team-high 23 points while J.J Hickson had 16 points and 15 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who have lost 24 of their last 25 games. Ramon Sessions did not seem bothered at all by any ankle issues, scoring 19 points for Cleveland, who
have lost 14 straight games in the 2010-11 season.
Sessions said after the game, “We have got a lot of young guys out there. We just have to build on it. We're professionals and we just have to keep working.”
Match Analysis
Phoenix began strongly as they got some impressive performances from Hill and Nash. Hill scored 14 points and Nash handed out eight assists in the opening 12 minutes, as the Suns built a 36-28 lead going into the second quarter. The Suns extended their fantastic
offensive play to the second stanza, and pushed their lead to 15 in the second. Phoenix successfully maintained a 62-49 at half time.
Phoenix and Cleveland began the third quarter at a crisp pace, using 28 possessions apiece. However, the Suns found a way to take a 90-77 advantage into the final stanza. Leading by 13 points, the Suns fell flat at the start of the fourth quarter. The Cavaliers
took a wonderful care of the available opportunity and trimmed the deficit to 93-90 on Jamario Moon's three-pointer with six and a half minutes left until the final buzzer.
However, Hill hit a clutch jumper just before the 24-second clock expired, and Nash's basket made it 97-90 for good. Carter drained his three-pointer to put the Suns ahead by 100-92 and the hosts did not bother the visiting team for rest of the period.
Suns guard Vince Carter only made one basket, but it was perhaps the game's most important. His huge three-pointer from the corner with two and a half minutes left to put the Suns ahead by eight. Hill appreciated the sizzling play by Crater as he said, “Vince
certainly hit a big one when we needed one. I'm starting to get more comfortable with the new guys and my role.”
After the defeat, Cavaliers Coach Byron Scott said his team needed to improve in the final quarter. He said, "We just have to figure out a way, when it is the fourth quarter, not to tense up.”
Tags: