Suns notebook: Suns lament mistakes in win over Magic

Instead of fully enjoying their second victory this season over an Orlando Magic team that was the first in the NBA to reach 14 wins, the Suns left US Airways Center Friday thinking about all the things they failed to do in the closing minutes.

Up 10 with 5:15 remaining, Phoenix missed seven of its final eight shots and saw its lead cut to two by the 1:47 mark and trimmed to one with 11 seconds left. Although it held on, Phoenix did not walk away satisfied, and so Saturday’s film session was spent nitpicking the closing minutes.

“The thing is we won, but we weren’t happy with the win,” forward Grant Hill said. “In the grand scheme of things, that’s a good thing. It’s good that we are addressing that as opposed to, 'Oh, it’s just a win.’ We want to win, and win the right way.”

While Phoenix went cold offensively, coach Mike D’Antoni said there were a few mistakes made at the defensive end, like leaving the Magic open for 3-pointers. Orlando made two during an 8-0 run but missed its last three, two of which could have given it the lead.

“There were a couple of things we did that we risked them winning when we shouldn’t have risked it,” D’Antoni said. “We did a couple of things we could have clamped down a little harder.”

The Suns had trouble closing games in the fourth quarter when they had double-digit leads on several occasions last season and don’t want that to become a trend again this season. It’s important they develop a killer instinct now, Hill said.

“Everything we do is preparing ourselves for the playoffs, but we can’t think, 'Well, once the playoffs come we’ll turn it on,’” he said. “We’re setting habits and doing things now that will prepare us when we get there.”

D’Antoni said because the near collapse came against an elite team and it was the first instance of it this season, he is not too worried.

“I’d be overly concerned if we were 7-7,” he said. “I just want us to get better.”

FREE THROWS AND ELBOWS

Steve Nash said he was bummed to have his streak of consecutive free throws made end Friday. He missed the second of two with 15 seconds left.

“It was too bad,” Nash said. “I knew I broke 50 last night. I shot it well. I thought it was going in. I was in my home-run trot and then missed it.”

Nash made his first 53 free throws this season, but his streak was at 74 dating back to last season.

“Oh, I did not know that,” Nash said.

“Wow, that’s not bad. It would have been nice to go for another few weeks.”

Nash came within four of tying Houston’s Calvin Murphy for third in league history. Micheal Williams of Minnesota set the all-time mark when he made 97 straight between March 24 and Nov. 9, 1993.

Making Nash’s run even more impressive is that he revealed Saturday he has been playing most of the season with an injured right elbow.

“Like a month ago I hyperextended my elbow this way,” he said bringing his hand to his chest, “and every day I aggravate it.”

The injury bothered Nash more than usual Friday after he bumped into Raja Bell in the first half.

“Last night was a lot worse,” he said. “It will be fine.”

BACK TO FORM

Having a healthier and productive Bell in the lineup Friday had a trickle-down effect on the Suns as six players scored at least 15 points, the most balanced Phoenix has been this season.

With Orlando paying so much attention to the pick and roll, Bell was left open on the perimeter often early, and he came through hitting 4-of-4 3-pointers in the first half.

When the Magic did focus more on him, that paved the way for others to get easy baskets. “He’s an important part of our team,” Hill said. “Stability is the thing he brings. …

“He’s starting to get his legs and his rhythm. He’ll get better and better. Plus, we’ve been logging heavy minutes (with Bell out), so when he gets back (to 100 percent), it gives us more of a normal rotation. We’re all excited that he’s back.”

Suns at Knicks

When: 5 p.m. today

Where: Madison Square Garden, New York

TV: KUTP (Ch. 45)

Radio: KTAR (620 AM)

Records: Phoenix 12-4, New York 5-10

Line: Phoenix by 8

Series history: Phoenix beat New York 113-102 at home on Nov. 13 and has won seven of the last eight meetings to improve to 52-54 all time. It is just 17-35 on the road. A win today would give the Suns consecutive victories in New York for the first time since Jan. 2, 1990 and March 5, 1991.

Scouting report:

Suns – This is the first of a five-game road trip and the second of five straight against Eastern Conference teams. Phoenix is 6-2 away from home and in interconference play is 7-1 this season and 78-20 since 2004-05. The Suns are averaging 111.6 points per game over the last five after putting up 106.4 in their first 11.

Knicks – New York rebounded from an embarrassing 45-point road loss to Boston on Thursday in which it scored a NBA season-low 59 points with a 91-88 home victory over Milwaukee on Friday. Zach Randolph and Jamal Crawford, who lead the team with averages of 17.9 and 17.1 points, respectively, each had 25 against the Bucks. Fans at Madison Square Garden have been chanting lately for coach Isiah Thomas to be fired. Randolph (death in the family) and former Suns Quentin Richardson (hyper-extended elbow) and Stephon Marbury (feud with coach) didn’t play in last month’s meeting with the Suns but are expected to go tonight.