Suns hold off Trail Blazers for 12th-straight win

Boris Diaw added 21 points for the red-hot Suns, who won their 12th straight contest and for the 30th time in their last 33 tries. Leandro Barbosa chipped in with 20 points, while Steve Nash had 13 points and 15 assists for Phoenix, which is three wins shy of tying its franchise best winning streak set earlier this season.

Zach Randolph had a game-high 36 points and 15 rebounds for the Trail Blazers. who have lost five of their last seven games. Rookie Brandon Roy tallied 22 points and Jarrett Jack, Ime Udoka and LaMarcus Aldridge all contributed 10 points.

Phoenix took a 12-point edge into the fourth quarter and quickly tried to put things away. Diaw’s jumper, less than two minutes into the stanza, gave the Suns a commanding 86-71 advantage.

But, Portland refused to go away and began to chip away as the game headed toward the stretch. Randolph buried a jumper with 1:34 left to make it a one- possession game, 96-93.

The league’s reigning MVP, Nash, refused to let the Suns give the game away, however. Nash buried two jumpers and a pair of free throws in the final 1:17 to secure things for Phoenix.

The Trail Blazers took a slim 28-25 lead after the opening 12 minutes but the Suns rebounded with an excellent second quarter to take a 55-48 edge at intermission.

Phoenix continued to slowly build its lead in the third quarter and were on top, 81-69, heading to the final frame.

Game Notes

Phoenix is now a gaudy 18-3 at home this season...The Trail Blazers are 7-13 on the road this season...Raja Bell finished with 14 points for the Suns.