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Phoenix was up 73-52 at the beginning of the third quarter after running circles around the Bucks in the first half as their starters racked up a double-digit lead by landing 62 percent of their buckets. That includes Michael Redd, who scored 14 points during his first visit to his old stomping grounds since being traded by Milwaukee in December. Other Suns starters with double-digit scoring include Jared Dudley (19 points), Grant Hill (18 points), and Channing Frye (14 points).
The Phoenix bench began to blow it late in the third when their opponents finally woke up. While the Suns were missed nine of 10 shots to begin the fourth quarter, Milwaukee’s Beno Udrih, Mike Dunleavy, and Ersan Ilyasova powered a 27-4 run that eventually gave the Bucks a 94-90 lead with seven minutes and change left in the game.
Naturally, the Suns starters came back and put on a pick-and-roll clinic and salvaged a win with a 17-11 scoring run. Dudley hit a pair of timely three-pointers and later went two-for-two at the foul line, Frye blocked a Drew Gooden shot attempt that setup a trey from Nash, and a Marcin Gortat’s contributed key rebounding.
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“It was a great first half — and a gut-check second half,” head coach Alvin Gentry stated after the game.
The Suns (11-14) will attempt to extend their winning streak tomorrow night when they return home to US Airways Center to play the Houston Rockets (14-11). Tip-off is at 7 p.m. For tickets and more info, visit www.suns.com.
