Phoenix Suns use 3rd quarter muscle to bulldoze Washington Wizards 104-88 - NBA Recap
Washington Wizards had not defeated Phoenix Suns in six years and when both teams met on Monday night the odds of Suns overpowering the Wizards were even higher than ever before, coutesy the poor current form of the Wizards.
Wizards fought gallantly in the first 29 minutes of the game, behind by only one point 55-56. They only needed to hold the Suns for another 19 minutes to grab a memorable win, however unfortunately for them, it was not to be.
The Suns fuelled a magnificent game changing 29 – 6 run in the last 7 minutes of the third frame, capped by Michael Redd’s 3-pointer, to stun the Wizards and hence ruin their dreams achieving a historical win in the midst of an
unforgettable season. The run changed the game all completely and put the Suns in complete command at 85-61.
Wizards, shell shocked with the 3rd quarter onslaught , succumbed to the pressure and failed to make any sort of a comeback in the deciding quarter. By the final buzzer, they found themselves 16 points short of the opponents
to round off yet another disappointing loss.
Marcin Gortat led the Suns with 20 points on 9 for 14 from the floor and 7 boards whereas Channing Frye pounded 19 points and grabbed 11 boards. Redd accumulated 14 points while Steve Nash completed yet another double-double with
12 points and 11 assists.
"That felt very good," Channing Frye said of his team's big run. "I think it's letting everybody get into a rhythm. Defensively you saw we started to pick it up, just give them one shot. We were moving, we were talking on `D' and
just playing good basketball."
Reserve Jordan Crawford led the Wizards with 20 points while Trevor Booker had 16 points and 8 boards. JaVale McGee, John Wall and Roger Mason Jr. sealed 10 points apiece.
Wizards coach Randy Wittman, was immensely disappointed with the outcome of the game. He lashed out on the players, blaming the loss to the selfish play of the players.
"Selfish, that's what it was, "Wittman said. "We were up by one and then went on a spree of the most selfish basketball I have seen since I have taken over. I have to find the right people to play the right way because I am not
letting that slip back in."
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