SB Nation DC - Wizards Vs. Suns: Washington's 4-Game Home Winning Streak Ends As Suns Win 109-91https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48897/dc-fave.png2011-01-21T21:40:32-05:00http://dc.sbnation.com/rss/stream/17131782011-01-21T21:40:32-05:002011-01-21T21:40:32-05:00Wizards Vs. Suns: Wizards Fall Behind And Lose 109-91
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Wizards</a>' slim lead at halftime didn't last long at the Verizon Center this time around. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/">Suns</a> took over in the second half, and a game that looked close at halftime, didn't turn out to be that way.</p>
<p>Channing Frye of the Suns and Nick Young of the Wizards each had 25 points and eight rebounds, but only one of them was able to do enough to win. The Suns received bigger contributions from their role players and a whole lot more help from the bench in their 109-91 win on the road.</p>
<p>John Wall had a pretty attractive stat line - 11 points and 14 assists - but as discussed by <a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/2011/1/21/1949353/wizards-decide-to-stop-playing-defense-lose-to-suns">Mike Prada on Bullets Forever</a>, he didn't show enough aggression.</p>
<blockquote>Wall had a lot of assists, but he has to realize that you have to be a threat to score and drive in this league. Early in the second quarter, he had a wide open layup, and instead decided to kick it out to Al Thornton for a 20-foot jumper. That was a harbinger, as he constantly looked to pass, even though Steve Nash was on him. For all of his speed, Wall is still not very good at being deceptive in the half court. Nash was able to stay in front of him a lot, and that shouldn't happen.</blockquote>
<p>And as if that weren't enough, Kirk Heinrich left the game in the fourth quarter with what looked to be a pretty significant injury. According to <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/MrMichaelLee/status/28635708730118144">Michael Lee of the Washington Post</a>, Heinrich wasn't able to lift his right arm as he departed for the locker room.</p>
<p>The only good news for the Wizards tonight is that they won't have to dwell in this defeat for long. The Wizards will have the chance to knock off the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Boston Celtics</a> tomorrow night at Verizon Center.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-wizards/2011/1/21/1949373/wizards-vs-suns-recap-score-nick-youngMartin Shatzer2011-01-21T20:25:43-05:002011-01-21T20:25:43-05:00Wizards Vs. Suns: Nick Young Scores 20 First Half Points As Wizards Lead By 1
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<p>We entered tonight's game talking about the matchup between star point guards <span>John Wall</span> and <span>Steve Nash</span>. So who knew then that the clear star entering halftime would be <span>Nick Young</span>? Fans who have been watching the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Wizards</a> closely recently. That's who.</p>
<p>Young has 20 of the Wizards' 53 points at halftime, and Washington currently leads the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/">Phoenix Suns</a> by one point.</p>
<p>The criticism that Young scores so many of his points in garbage time of losing games definitely doesn't apply tonight. He's made four of seven three-pointers and is shooting just over 50% from the field.</p>
<p><span>Andray Blatche</span> and <span>Rashard Lewis</span> have also each come up big for Washington with 10 points apiece. <span>Grant Hill</span> leads all Phoenix players with 10 points as well.</p>
<p>After allowing Nash to record a season-high 17 points in their first meeting, Wall has gotten the better of the veteran so far. The rookie has 10 assists to Nash's eight, also chipping in four points in the first half.</p>
<p>The Wizards are going to need more production from their bench though in the second 24 minutes of tonight's game if they want to hold onto their slim lead. They earned only seven points from the bench in the first half, while the Suns had 18 points, including eight from center <span>Marcin Gortat</span>.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-wizards/2011/1/21/1949277/wizards-vs-suns-nick-young-scores-20-first-half-points-recapMartin Shatzer2011-01-21T18:51:41-05:002011-01-21T18:51:41-05:00Wizards Vs. Suns: John Wall Looks To Avenge Steve Nash's Dominance Last Month
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<p>We're lucky that <span>John Wall</span> enjoys a challenge.</p>
<p>This whole season could be called a challenge for the rookie, but this weekend in particular will really give Wall a chance to prove himself against two of the elite point guards in the NBA. Tonight, Wall and the <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington Wizards</a> face <span>Steve Nash</span> and the <a href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Phoenix Suns</a> at Verizon Center. And if that weren't enough, <span>Rajon Rondo</span> and the <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Boston Celtics</a> are due for a visit tomorrow night.</p>
<p>This is the second meeting between Wall and Nash. The first meeting didn't go so well for the Wizards, as Nash recorded a season-high 17 assists and scored 20 points in the Suns' win.</p>
<p>But according to <a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/2011/1/21/1949039/phoenix-suns-at-washington-wizards-regular-season-game-41-open-thread">Sean Fagan of Bullets Forever</a>, the point guard battle might not be the most important element of this game.</p>
<blockquote>Coach Flip Saunders downplayed the importance of the matchup in his pregame address, stating that he was less concerned about Wall guarding Nash, and more about the how the rest of the team matching up against a perimeter oriented team such as the Suns. Saunders as much as admitted that Nash was going to get his tonight, and that the focus of the Wizards should be on shutting down evergreen <span>Grant Hill</span> and the always entertaining <span>Vince Carter</span>
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<p>The game will tip off at 7:00 PM and can be seen live on Comcast SportsNet.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2011/1/21/2328439/wizards-vs-suns-john-wall-looks-to-avenge-steve-nashs-dominance-lastMartin Shatzer