Suns 115, Blazers 111
Steve Nash had 23 points and 13 assists and drained a late 3-pointer as the Phoenix Suns salvaged the finale of a four-game season series against the Brandon Roy-less Portland Trail Blazers with a 115-111 home victory Friday night.
Grant Hill scored 13 of his 21 points in the third quarter for the Suns, who won consecutive games for the first time in six weeks and now head out for a five-game East Coast swing.
Wesley Matthews and LaMarcus Aldridge combined for 51 points for the Blazers, who lost their third straight and began an extended stretch without All-Star Brandon Roy, who will undergo surgery on both knees next week.
Phoenix closed the first half on a 16-8 run to close within three and used Hill’s spurt to pull within 86-85 heading into the fourth.
Phoenix held a small lead most of the fourth, but Andre Miller scored nine straight Blazers points and Nicolas Batum drained two free throws to tie the game at 108 with 1:21 left.
Nash then found a little daylight off a high screen and drained a 3-pointer from the right wing with 70 seconds remaining.
After Aldridge and Vince Carter split free throws, Aldridge missed a jump hook in the lane with 21 seconds left and the Suns held on.
About the only thing Nash did wrong was miss two free throws, snapping his streak of 48 straight made foul shots.