Suns at Celtics
THE STORY:
Aside from being guided by elite point guards, the Phoenix Suns and
Boston Celtics have been on eerily similar paths this season. Heading
into Friday's matchup in Boston, the teams were able to erase one common
denominator when each snapped five-game losing streak Wednesday. The
Suns rode a 26-point, 11-assist effort by point guard Steve Nash to a
91-88 victory over the New York Knicks in the third of a five-game road
trip as Phoenix averted its first six-game skid since March 2009. “We've
had a tough stretch, so for us, any win is a huge relief and hopefully
will give us some confidence and maybe get us going a little bit,” Nash
said. Rajon Rondo scored 21 points to spark Boston to a 96-73 rout of
Toronto, but the point guard was knocked out of the game with a wrist
injury on a flagrant foul by Linas Kleiza. He is scheduled for an MRI
exam and is doubtful for Friday.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Arizona (Phoenix), CS New England (Boston)
ABOUT THE SUNS (5-9):
Shannon Brown provided an offensive jolt off the bench by matching his
season high with 14 points Wednesday. He scored nine of those points in
the final 4:07 of the game, giving Phoenix its biggest lead with
back-to-back jumpers and then burying a huge 3-pointer to stave off a
Knicks comeback. Center Marcin Gortat extended his string of
double-doubles to a career-high six games with 11 points and 12
rebounds. He is averaging 12.3 boards in his last six games.
ABOUT THE CELTICS: (5-8):
Rondo has become Boston’s one indispensable player, which team
president Danny Ainge all but acknowledged by saying he would listen to
trade offers on any of his aging Big 3 – Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and
Ray Allen. Avery Bradley or rookie E’Twaun Moore will start if Rondo
can’t go. Celtics coach Doc Rivers had high praise for reserve Mickael
Pietrus, who followed up a season-high 14-point effort with 12 points
against Toronto. “His energy is just infectious, and defensively he’s
unbelievable,” Rivers said.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Nash, 37, became the oldest player in the league to put up at least 25 points and 10 assists in a game.
2.
Celtics guard Ray Allen scored only six points Wednesday, both on
3-pointers. He is shooting 55.9 percent (33 of 59) from beyond the arc.
3.
More on Nash: He has scored 51 points on 19-of-25 shooting in his last
two, but he’s averaging only 11.4 points in 27 career games versus
Boston.