National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Phoenix 112, Houston 105
When: 8:00 PM ET, Friday, April 13, 2012
Where: Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
Officials: #70 Brent Barnaky, #17 Joe Crawford, #35 Kane Fitzgerald
Attendance: 18223

SUNS 112, ROCKETS 105: Marcin Gortat collected 20 points and 15 rebounds and Steve Nash had a big second half as visiting Phoenix pulled closer to the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference. Houston has dropped back-to-back games to fall onto the playoff bubble.

Nash finished with 18 points and 10 assists and Jared Dudley scored 19 for the Suns (31-28), who moved within one game of the Rockets (32-27) for the No. 8 spot.

Nash went scoreless in the first half but quickly went about making up for it with 10 points in the third quarter as Phoenix took control. After trailing by four at the break, the Suns outscored Houston 30-14 in the third.

Gortat added eight points in the frame, while Dudley and Michael Redd each hit key 3-pointers.

Phoenix led by as much as 97-81 with 5:46 left before the Rockets made one last push. Former Suns guard Goran Dragic scored five points during a 17-6 burst and pulled Houston within 103-98 with 2:19 to play.

But Nash hit four free throws in the final 28 seconds to seal the win.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Rockets C Marcus Camby pulled down all 18 of his rebounds and scored 10 of his 14 points in the first half. … Each team went to the free throw line 33 times, with Houston converting 29 and the Suns 28. … Phoenix will play six of its final seven games against Western Conference teams fighting for playoff positioning.
Top Game Performances
 
Phoenix   Houston
Marcin Gortat 20 Scoring Goran Dragic 22
Steve Nash 10 Assists Goran Dragic 7
Marcin Gortat 15 Rebounds Marcus Camby 18
Steve Nash 9 Free Throws Made Goran Dragic 11
Jared Dudley 1 Steals Marcus Camby 2
Marcin Gortat 2 Blocks Marcus Camby 3
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Phoenix 112 49.4 8-18 28-33 22 44 3 5 15
Houston 105 42.9 4-19 29-33 24 39 7 8 15
Upcoming Games
  • Houston will play their next game on the road against Denver. The Rockets have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .000 after a loss.
  • Phoenix will play their next game on the road against San Antonio. The Suns have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .000 after a loss.