Cody's Blog

On the verge of executing their first sweep against the Spurs, the Phoenix Suns had to win game four to end their 10 year drought of losing to the San Antonio Spurs in the playoffs. Good thing they had Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire on their side. The best pick and roll duo in the NBA exploded for 49 points, 9 rebounds, 10 assists and 3 steals in their 107-101 win game four win over the Spurs. What was a three point game for most of the way, the Suns Steve Nash took a Tim Duncan elbow right to the eye. Requiring stitches, Nash was escorted back to the locker room received six stitches without any anesthesia (knowing it might throw his game off), and continued in time to start the final quarter of the all important game. Nash scored 10 points and dished out four assist in that quarter, and he also hit the game changing shot with 9:08 left in the quarter. The score tied at 77 all, Nash dribbled the ball down the court, and using Leanro Barbosa as a shield, fired up a 25 foot three point attempt that hit nothing but nylon and put the Suns up 80-77. Nash was doing all of this with an eye that was swollen shut by the 10 minute mark of the final quarter, and battery mate Amare Stoudemire posted 29 points to help the Suns clinch a berth against (presumably) the Los Angeles Lakers with a trip to the 2010 NBA finals on the line. Shooting 50 percent (4/8) from the field and 100 percent (1/1) from the line in that final quarter with one eye, the Suns point guard showed why he is the NBA’s most elite point guard, and also avenged his previous playoff injury in a lose to the Spurs in the 2007 Western Conference semifinals, where he sliced his nose open on Tony Parker’s head. (Picture: Steve Nash focuses on his free throw with his good eye. Photo courtesy of D. Clarke Evans/AP)