The
Phoenix Suns are struggling through their longest road trip of the season.
Steve Nash's back problems could make the trip seem even longer.
After battling back pain in the team's latest loss, Nash hopes to be on the court and deliver a more effective performance as the Suns try to avoid a season high-tying fourth straight defeat in a matchup with the
Atlanta Hawks on Sunday night.After winning the opener of its season-high six-game road trip, Phoenix (23-18) has dropped its last three games by an average of 14.6 points.The Suns committed 24 turnovers, shot a season-low 36.0 percent from the field and trailed by as much as 34 points in their 98-76 loss to Charlotte on Friday night. It was the first time they were held to fewer than 80 points since a 110-72 loss at New Jersey on March 27, 2006.
"We've got to do some soul searching," said Suns coach
Terry Porter, whose team ranks among the league leaders in scoring (103.8 points per game) and field-goal percentage (49.5) but has been stagnant offensively of late."Somehow we need to find a way to win a game. Our will has got to make us win a game."Suns guard
Jason Richardson was just as emphatic after the team's eighth loss in its last 12 road games."We need to figure out ways to just go out there and compete," said Richardson, held to eight points in three of his last five games. "We can't expect to get wins just because we're the Phoenix Suns."That could be a lot more challenging if Nash doesn't start feeling better. The two-time league MVP point guard was hampered by a sore back Friday, finishing with four points, five assists and six turnovers before leaving early in the second half. He missed his only free-throw attempt, ending his streak of 54 consecutive makes.
It's unclear if Nash will miss any time with the injury."I tried to fight through the back pain tonight but it was tough," said Nash, averaging 13.9 points and 9.1 assists after averaging 16.9 and 11.1 last season. "I probably should have taken myself out earlier. Hopefully that wasn't the wrong decision. It's a struggle right now."Phoenix is 6-15 without Nash since signing him in 2004, including 2-2 this season.While Nash and the Suns are stumbling, the Hawks (26-16) have rebounded nicely from a slump of their own. After dropping six of their first eight games this month, they've won three straight, including a 117-87 rout of Milwaukee on Friday night.
Flip Murray scored a season-high 25 points off the bench,
Josh Smith had 24 and the Hawks shot 55.8 percent in their biggest victory of the season."We were not settling for a lot of jump shots," guard
Joe Johnson said. "We got to the hole a lot. The pick-and-roll worked to perfection."Just as importantly, the Hawks held the Bucks to 40 second-half points and 38.0 percent shooting overall.
"We're back defending like we were defending early in the year," coach Mike Woodson said. "That's the way we're going to have to continue the rest of the way out. It's no fluke -- when we defend and hold teams under 100 points, we're pretty good."Indeed, Atlanta is 21-5 when holding opponents under the century mark and 5-11 when giving up triple figures.Johnson, who spent three-plus seasons with the Suns from 2002-05, has been held to 25 total points and 8-for-29 shooting (27.6 percent) over his last two games. He's averaged 11.7 points and shot 19.2 percent (10-for-52) in his last three meetings with Phoenix, including a 107-102 road loss Jan. 13.Suns center
Shaquille O'Neal had 26 points and 10 rebounds in that game, while Nash added 23 points.
