Who would've thunk that the Phoenix Suns, with their balletic grace and scorching pace, would be locked in a series that's reminiscent of the old Miami-Knick battles of the late 90's? Steve Nash, taken out of his game by a knee to the groin from Bruce Bowen in Game Three and bloodied in a collision in Game One, got into another scrape at the end of Game Four. With the Suns clinging to a 100-97 lead after two Amare Stoudemire finishes of Nash passes, Robert Horry threw a body check worthy of the Broad Street Bullies and knocked Nash into the scorer's table. He got a flagrant and was ejected, Raja Bell got a technical but, most importantly, Nash made his free throws and the Suns were on their way to a series-tying 104-98 win.
The Spurs seemed poised to begin closing out the series after three quarters. They led by eight after 36 minutes, by as many as 12 in the fourth and when Tim Duncan made it 97-92 with 2:23 to play the future looked bright indeed for those on the banks of the Biga. But the Suns wouldn't allow another field goal and Nash made a bucket and set up the two by Stoudemire to swing the game back to Phoenix's favor. Nash finished with 24 points and 15 assists in a must-win game for his team on Erev Nowitzki MVP, making yet another argument for voting after the playoffs for major awards.
The physicality of the Spurs isn't surprising, it's the best bet they have to try and stop the more athletic Suns, and Phoenix certainly matched their aggressiveness for the first time last night. The upside was the normally placid Nash making it quite clear that he wouldn't be a punching bag for San Antonio anymore. The downside is that Stoudemire and Boris Diaw appeared to leave the bench during the fracas with Horry and their status is in question for Game Five. Stoudemire was checking in at the scorer's table and the brouhaha was going on right there so perhaps he escapes but, again, who would have expected this series to be so similar to a Heat-Knick slugfest?
(AP Photo/LM Otero)
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