Phoenix Suns Team Report - January 24

(Basketball News) - The Phoenix Suns found themselves on the wrong end of an 86-84 decision to the San Antonio Spurs on Friday at America West Arena.

The Suns were led by 23 points from Shawn Marion and 17 from Casey Jacobsen. Joe Johnson added 16 points, but committed a costly turnover in the waning moments as Phoenix lost its second straight on the heels of a four-game winning streak.

Driving layups by Johnson and Marion gave Phoenix an 84-80 lead, but the Spurs scored four straight and knotted the game at 84 on Nesterovic’s dunk with 36.5 seconds to play.

Johnson drove the lane at the other end, but lost the ball out of bounds. Tony Parker then drilled a long-range jumper as the shot clock wound down for the winning basket.

Phoenix inbounded to Johnson after a timeout, but he got tangled up in the paint and a jump ball was called with just one-tenth of a second showing.

Jake Voskuhl grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds, which was the most by a Phoenix center since John Williams also had 16 April 2, 1997 vs. Houston.

The Suns played the contest without reigning Rookie of the Year Amare Stoudemire, who sat out his third straight game with a bad ankle. he has played just 23 games this season.

Maciej Lampe, acquired from New York in the Stephon Marbury trade, played his first two NBA minutes. He did not score and missed his only shot attempt.

The Suns return to action on Sunday against the Minnesota Timberwolves.