Nash Still Has It; Guard’s 30 Points Lead Suns Over Heat

(Sports Network) - Steve Nash scored 25 of his 30 points in the second half to carry the Suns to a 104-96 victory over the Heat in a battle of early undefeated clubs at American Airlines Arena.

Nash hit four three-pointers and doled out eight assists for Phoenix, which has won its first four games of the year. Amare Stoudemire posted 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Grant Hill also recorded a double-double with 10 and 12.

Jason Richardson netted 14 points for the Suns, who outscored Miami, 29-15, in the fourth quarter.

Dwyane Wade’s 23 points, nine rebounds and seven assists weren’t enough to move the Heat to 4-0. Quentin Richardson ended with 18 points and 10 boards, while Jermaine O’Neal and Michael Beasley chipped in 14 and 12 points, respectively.

Udonis Haslem pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds to go with 10 points in the loss.

The Suns trailed the entire second half until Jason Richardson buried a three from the left corner to tie it, 84-84, with eight minutes left in the game.

Jared Dudley’s three-point play gave the visitors the lead, and back-to-back Nash and Jason Richardson three-balls around a Quentin Richardson jumper extend the margin to 95-88.

Nash converted a three-point play after the teams traded points for a 102-93 cushion with two minutes left, and the Heat missed their final three attempts from downtown to fall just short.

The Heat led, 26-23, after the first quarter. After giving up the lead early in the second, a 17-1 run highlighted by two Beasley dunks and a Wade throw- down made it 50-37 with under three minutes to play before intermission.

Phoenix trimmed its deficit to 52-44 at the break and made it a six-point game, 81-75, heading to the game-altering final period.

Phoenix is 4-0 for the first time since the 2004-05 season...Miami started 3-0 for the first time since the 2004-05 squad kicked off the campaign with four consecutive triumphs...The Suns were without guard Leandro Barbosa (wrist)... Miami’s Daequan Cook sat out with a strained right shoulder...Louis Amundson had 10 points off the bench for Phoenix, which shot 50.6 percent from the field, compared to Miami’s 40-percent effort.