Utah and Deron Williams one night. Phoenix and Steve Nash the next. Too bad the Nets' Devin Harris couldn't throw in Chris Paul the following game.
But Williams and Nash, both struggling through the remnants of injuries, are tough enough for the Nets point guard. Williams, in his third game back from an ankle sprain, demolished an ailing Williams on Saturday at Utah. The Nets face Phoenix on Sunday, but it's unclear whether Nash will play. The former MVP sat Friday against Miami, and the Heat clobbered the Suns by 15. For the Nets, it's the last game of their annual Thanksgiving trip. And this one could not end in a more ominous place. The last time the Nets won in Phoenix was in 1993 -- Rumeal Robinson was directing the show. The Nets have lost in Phoenix 14 straight times.
The Nets saw the Suns earlier this season. And got hammered. Identical twins Brook and Robin Lopez playing against each other made for a nice story -- and the Nets would rather talk about that then the 114-86 home-court shellacking they endured. Shaquille O'Neal looked like the Shaq of his Laker days when he routinely tortured the Nets. Shaq had 18 points, six rebounds and two blocks as the Suns enjoyed their biggest win, point-wise, of the season so far.
And while Shaq killed inside, Raja Bell scored 22 while Nash contributed a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double. A Suns win would give them a sweep of the Nets for the third straight season. The Nets got 19 points from Vince Carter.
NETS 105, JAZZ 88: Devin Harris said he saw Jazz counterpart Deron Williams favoring his left ankle, so he attacked all night and wound up with his fifth career 30-point game -- all this season. Harris finished with 34 points, six assists, four rebounds and three steals. Vince Carter added 22 points for the Nets, who guaranteed they would be no worse than .500 on their four-game Thanksgiving week road trip.
Williams finished with 10 points and 13 assists.
The Nets moved to 8-7, going over .500 for the first time since opening night.
