PHOENIX (Reuters) – The Phoenix Suns returned to form with a 114-109 victory over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, keeping alive their hopes of making the postseason.
Steve Nash led the way with 25 points and 17 assists for the Suns (41-34), whose five starters all recorded double figures to keep the team within four games of the Dallas Mavericks for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
The starting unit carried the day for the Suns, who got 23 points from Grant Hill, 18 from Jason Richardson and 16 from Matt Barnes while the team’s bench contributed just 10 points.
Shaquille O’Neal had 22 points and 10 rebounds in his marquee matchup with fellow center Yao Ming, who finished with 20 and 14.
“I wouldn’t call it ‘physical,’ it’s just two big trees leaning on each other and going at it,” O’Neal told reporters.
“It was a must-win game for us. Seven more (wins) – that’s what needs to be done.”
Ron Artest scored a game-high 28 points as the Rockets (48-27) dropped to fourth in the competitive West with seven games left.
Houston are competing for the conference’s number two seeding and have enjoyed a good late-season run despite missing guard Tracy McGrady. The Rockets are 16-6 since McGrady underwent season-ending surgery.
Houston appeared to be headed toward another win early in the fourth quarter but Phoenix went on a 15-0 run to turn a seven-point deficit into a 104-96 advantage with 4:16 remaining.
“I think the last six minutes we didn’t execute well,” Yao said. “Obviously we know they are a transition team but we still gave them too many fast break points. Nash’s pick and rolls and Shaq were really hard to guard.”
The Suns led 67-56 at halftime but Ming grabbed 10 points in the third, where the Rockets outscored Phoenix 32-21 to tie things at 88.
