Spurs at Suns
THE STORY: The Phoenix Suns wrap up their worst season in seven years on Wednesday when they host the San Antonio Spurs on the final day of the regular season. Phoenix had won 54 or more games in five of the past six seasons before experiencing a highly disappointing season that is the franchise’s worst since a disastrous 29-53 campaign in 2003-04. Not even the near-nightly brilliance of star guard Steve Nash could steer the Suns into the playoffs. To make matters worse, the Suns swept San Antonio in the second round of last year’s playoffs. Now Phoenix will be spectators to the postseason while San Antonio will be the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs. The Spurs are competing with the East-leading Chicago Bulls for homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, KENS, FSAZ.
ABOUT THE SUNS (39-42): Phoenix hasn’t defeated a team with a winning record since posting a victory over the Houston Rockets on March 8. That contest preceded the ongoing 6-13 slide that includes two four-game losing streaks. Phoenix’s last two wins have come against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who have lost 14 straight games and have the worst record in the league. The Suns made 18 3-point baskets while beating the Timberwolves 135-127 in overtime on Monday. Channing Frye scored a career-high 33 points and tied a franchise record with nine 3-pointers. Jared Dudley scored 26 points and made all five of his 3-point attempts. Nash had 16 assists and is about to win the assists title for the fifth time in seven seasons with the Suns. Nash is averaging 11.4 per game.
ABOUT THE SPURS (61-20): San Antonio had a four-game winning streak snapped with Tuesday’s 102-93 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Spurs rested starting forward Tim Duncan and starting backcourt Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker and it won’t be a surprise if the trio sits out against Phoenix too. Gary Neal scored a team-high 16 points and Matt Bonner added 13 points for San Antonio. Center Antonio McDyess sat out to rest his achy back and DeJuan Blair had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. The Spurs are 25-15 on the road.
WHO'S HOT/WHO’S NOT: Dudley is averaging 15.9 points and 5.7 rebounds in 10 games since moving into the starting lineup. Neal is averaging 14 points and shooting 57.l percent over the last three outings. Phoenix guard Aaron Brooks is shooting just 31.8 percent over the past three games. San Antonio guard George Hill is shooting just 33.3 percent over the last two games.
KEY STATISTIC: Phoenix has allowed an average of 117 points over the last three games and is averaging 105.9 per game, third-worst in the NBA. San Antonio averages 103.7 and has scored 111 or more in four of the past six games.
SEASON SERIES: San Antonio has defeated Phoenix three times, including a 112-110 road victory on Nov. 3. The Spurs also notched two home wins – 118-110 on Dec. 20 and 114-97 on April 3.
KEY INJURIES: SAN ANTONIO: F Antonio McDyess (back). PHOENIX: G Vince Carter (leg); G Mickael Pietrus (quadricep).
LAST WORD: “Even though you are wide open, it is hard to hit that many threes. When it comes to the NBA, if you hit that many threes, it is impressive. I’m glad that he hit them. We needed all of them.” – Phoenix guard/forward Jared Dudley on teammate Channing Frye tying the franchise record with nine 3-pointers in Monday’s game against Minnesota.