Bobcats-Suns Preview

By ALAN FERGUSON
Posted Feb 04 2012 12:19AM

The Phoenix Suns haven't earned too many wins lately, especially at home, but a matchup with the NBA's worst team would appear to provide the opportunity for a rare victory.

The Suns will try to record their second win in six games at the U.S. Airways Center on Saturday night when they face the short-handed Charlotte Bobcats.

Phoenix (8-14) is 4-10 over its last 14 games after a 99-81 loss in Houston on Friday in which it trailed by 20 points at the half.

"We need to play harder and play 'grown-man' basketball and not get pushed around," coach Alvin Gentry said. "You have to compete and match energy with energy. I wasn't pleased with anything we did."

The Suns' next opponent knows displeasure all too well.

The Bobcats (3-20) have lost 10 straight for their longest skid since a franchise-record 13 consecutive defeats Jan. 11-Feb. 1, 2006. They're also 1-12 on the road this season and on the verge of losing 11 in a row there for the first time since Nov. 7, 2007-Jan. 4, 2008.

To make matters worse, Charlotte likely won't have leading scorer Gerald Henderson for two to four weeks because of a strained right hamstring. An injured toe has kept starting point guard D.J. Augustin out of the last six games, including the worst loss in franchise history Wednesday.

After getting beat by 33 points to open a four-game trip, the Bobcats were thumped 112-68 by Portland.

"It's been unbelievably hard. And there's really nothing I can do about it. The guys are playing as hard as they can. We just don't have enough (talent) at this particular point," coach Paul Silas said. "You take the three top players off anyone's team, and they're not going to do well."

The Bobcats, though, have done well against the Suns lately with four straight wins in the series and two in a row in Phoenix after dropping their first five games there.

Boris Diaw had 18 points against his former team during a 114-107 win at the U.S. Airways Center on Jan. 26, 2011, but the other five players who scored in double figures in that game are either injured or no longer with the team.

The forward also scored a team-best 26 points during a 123-105 home victory on Nov. 20, 2010. He has averaged 23.0 points on 66.7 percent shooting and 9.0 rebounds over his last three games in Phoenix, where he played three-plus seasons before being traded in a six-player deal Dec. 11, 2008.

Steve Nash, meanwhile, will try to improve on his 24.0-point average over his last three home matchups with Charlotte. He scored 27 points on 11-of-15 shooting during the loss on Jan. 26.

Robin Lopez sparks Suns past Bobcats 95-89

Posted Feb 05 2012 12:40AM

PHOENIX (AP) Phoenix Suns center Robin Lopez has become a forgotten man since scoring 21 points on opening night. Saturday night he reminded everyone what he's capable of doing.

Lopez scored nine consecutive points to spark a 12-2 run starting the fourth quarter and the Suns rallied to beat Charlotte 95-89, the Bobcats' 11th consecutive loss.

"I feel that I've been playing well in short stretches," said Lopez, who had went 19-plus minutes and finished the game on the floor after playing only 28 minutes in the Suns' past six games. "When they call my number I'm going to try and do what I can."

Josh Childress gave the Suns their first lead since late in the second quarter, 75-72, with a 3-pointer from the left corner with 9:26 remaining. Cory Higgins scored for the Bobcats to pull Charlotte within one but then Lopez took over.

Lopez made a layup off a pass from Sebastian Telfair then converted a three-point play, sank another layup and scored on a turnaround jumper to give the Suns an 84-74 lead with 5:50 to go.

"The major problem is when Lopez came in," Bobcats coach Paul Silas said. "We didn't box him out and it really just changed the whole game around. He came in and dominated us."

Lopez's 11 fourth-quarter points were one more than he scored in Phoenix's past six games combined.

"Robin came in, did a great job and really gave us a big lift and got us over the hump," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said.

Michael Redd scored 17 points in his first start in nearly two years, Lopez finished with 13 and Marcin Gortat added 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Suns, who have won two of three.

Kemba Walker had 22 points and Reggie Williams added 11 for the Bobcats, but combined for only four in the fourth quarter.

"We just missed some shots that we should have made and they came down, executed their offense and they made shots," Walker said. "They really just outplayed us in the fourth quarter."

Charlotte has lost 11 straight on the road and has not won overall since Jan. 14 against Golden State.

Phoenix was without starting guard Jared Dudley, who was out with a thigh bruise. Redd signed a one-year free-agent deal on Dec. 29 and made his first start since Jan. 20, 2010 against the Los Angeles Lakers while a member of the Milwaukee Bucks.

"I just had a blast playing tonight," said Redd, whose playing time has been sporadic for much of the season as he plays his way back from MCL and ACL surgeries a year ago. "To come back, through the tears, through the hurt, through the hours of rehab, training to come back and accomplish this is maybe the most proud moment of my career."

Walker scored four points and Boris Diaw added a 3-pointer as Charlotte closed the first half on a 7-1 run to take a 48-42 halftime lead.

NOTES: Gortat has double-digit rebounds in 15 consecutive games, matching Kevin Lowe's league season-high streak. . Gortat also has blocked a shot in a league-best 12 straight games. . Bobcats F Bismack Biyombo made his first career start in place of DeSagana Diop, a late scratch with a knee injury, and finished with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Biyombo is the youngest player in the NBA.

Notebook: Suns 95, Bobcats 89

By Mike Tulumello, for NBA.com
Posted Sunday February 5, 2012 12:31AM

THE FACTS: The Phoenix Suns are a different team when big man Robin Lopez plays well. This hasn't happened often this season, one of the reasons the Suns have struggled. But the 7-foot-center awoke in the fourth quarter Saturday night in Phoenix, leading the Suns (9-14) to a 95-89 win over the injury decimated Charlotte Bobcats.

Michael Redd, a last-minute starter at off guard for the injured Jared Dudley, led the Suns with 17 points. Marcin Gortat had 12 points and 12 rebounds. He grabbed double-figure boards for the 15th straight game, the longest active streak in the NBA. Steve Nash had 11 points and 10 assists.

The Suns are 5-5 in their last 10 games. They started 4-4, but had a 5-game losing streak in between. The Bobcats (3-21) lost their 11th straight.

Kemba Walker led the Bobcats with 22 points. Tyrus Thomas had a season-high 13 boards.

QUOTABLE: "I was completely shocked, caught off guard (about starting)....A proud moment, coming back twice from knee surgery...To come back, through the tears, through the hurt, through the hours of rehab and accomplish this, is maybe the proudest moment of my career."
-- Suns guard Redd.

THE STAT: The Suns only turned it over eight times.

TURNING POINT: The Suns, leading just 75-74 with 9:00 left, went on a decisive 9-0 run. Lopez scored all the points.

QUOTABLE II: "I haven't had a bad win in 23 years in the NBA...a much-needed win."
-- Suns head coach Alvin Gentry.

GOOD MOVE I: At the last minute, Gentry started the veteran Redd at off guard in place of the injured Dudley. His reasoning: A veteran such as Redd would be better off playing immediately after warming up. Redd ended up with a Suns-high 17 points.

GOOD MOVE II: Silas started Reggie Williams in place of Matt Carroll at off guard. Williams responded with 21 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

ROOKIE WATCH: The Bobcats' Bismack Biyombo hit 5-for-6 for 11 points and grabbed 12 boards.

NOTABLE: Dudley's consecutive-game streak of 206 ended because of a bruised thigh suffered Wednesday night at New Orleans. His was the fourth-longest active streak. Derek Fisher leads with 519. The Bobcats played without four regulars: DeSagana Diop sat out with a leg injury, joining such mainstays as D.J. Augustin (toe), Gerald Henderson (hamstring) and Corey Maggette (hamstring).

UP NEXT: For the Bobcats, Tuesday @ Boston, Friday vs. Bulls and Saturday vs Los Angeles Clippers. For the Suns, Monday @ Atlanta, Tuesday at Milwaukee. Thursday vs. Rockets.

• Bobcats: Augustin, Maggette
• Suns: --

• Bobcats: --
• Suns: --

• Lead Changes: 8
• Times Tied: 8

• Arena: US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ
• Officials: #10 Ron Garretson, #42 Eric Lewis, #67 Matt Myers
• Attendance: 14928
• Duration: 2:09