Nash, Thomas help Suns top Nets 92-81
(AP)
Updated: 2005-11-26 15:12

Steve Nash scored 25 points and Kurt Thomas had a season-high 18 rebounds, helping the Phoenix Suns beat New Jersey 92-81 Friday night for their 12th straight victory over the Nets at America West Arena.

Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash, right, of Canada, makes a fall-away jump shot over New Jersey Nets forward Richard Jefferson, left, for two of Nash's 11 first-half points in the second quarter Friday, Nov. 25, 2005, in Phoenix.[AP]

The Suns' third straight win and fourth in five games boosted them two games over .500 (7-5) for the first time this season. It also was their third consecutive win at home after a 1-4 start.

The Nets, in the midst of a five-game road trip, dropped their third in a row and fell to 5-7.

New Jersey's point total was the lowest allowed by the Suns this season and the fifth straight game Phoenix held an opponent under 100 points.

Raja Bell added 13 points for Phoenix, Shawn Marion had 12 and James Jones and Boris Diaw each scored 10. Diaw also finished with nine assists and seven rebounds.

Jason Kidd led the Nets with 25 points, Vince Carter scored 23 and Richard Jefferson had 16.

The Suns, exhibiting the tough, resilient defense they have displayed recently, held the Nets to five field goals in 21 attempts in the second period in building a 20-point and held a 44-30 advantage at halftime.

During one span bridging the first and second quarters, the Nets went 6:35 without a basket and 5:44 without a point, and Phoenix outscored them 22-6.

Only Carter, Jefferson and Kidd had any success against Phoenix's tight man-to-man defense, combining for all but two of the Nets' points in the first half.

Meanwhile, Nash had 11 points at the break, but instead of being the orchestrator of the Suns' offense, as he usually is, it was the 6-foot-8 Diaw. Playing the center position, the versatile Diaw had six assists, along with four rebounds. His replacement, Thomas, contributed nine rebounds.

For the half, the disorganized Nets shot 29 percent (12-for-41). Phoenix was 19-for-44 (43 percent), including five 3-pointers.

The Nets found their shooting touch in the third period, hitting 13 of 19 shots to get within 70-64, the closest they had been since late in the first quarter. Their 34 points in the period were four more than they scored in the entire first half.