HOUSTON - The Suns have a win over the Spurs in hand. Amaré Stoudemire accuses Bruce Bowen of a cheap shot. Television replays back up his claim. Bowen waves it off as a figment of Stoudemire's imagination.

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Whether it was Bowen kicking Stoudemire in the back of his leg in last year's playoffs or burying an elbow in his rib cage in the fourth quarter of Wednesday's win over the Spurs, his actions seem to speak louder than his words.

"Much ado about nothing," was Bowen's only comment to the San Antonio Express-News afterward.

The Suns, as is often the case involving Bowen, disagreed. As soon as the game ended, the coaches and players headed for the TV in the dressing room, running back a tape of the play.

Stoudemire said he went toward Bowen after he caught his breath "because I just wanted to talk to him," before breaking into a smile. Then, when a San Antonio reporter asked him if he would be Bowen's friend on MySpace.com, Stoudemire said, "I probably would, but just to get his address. Then I might go visit him at his home."

Stoudemire has scored 20 or more points in 35 of the past 37 games, including the past 16 in a row.

The only two "sub-20" games came against the Spurs (16 on Jan. 31 and 16 on March 9). And despite a 16-point first half, he needed a three-point play with 3:52 left in the game to nudge over 20 on Wednesday.

NASH STILL HURTING

Despite being hounded and jostled by Bowen much of the night, Steve Nash contributed 12 points - eight of them in the fourth quarter when the Suns nailed down the win - and 10 assists. But he took it easy for the first three quarters, still bothered by back problems triggered by a rib that slips out of place - something he has dealt with for years.

"It's still there and I felt it a lot (Wednesday)," he said before the game. "I'm hoping I'm on the back end of it now and that by the time the playoffs come I can get past it."

Nash said he was already set to visit with his personal physiotherapist, Rick Celebrini, before the latest pain came on.

They usually have some sessions before the postseason to get Nash ready to go.

Nash, the second-rated 3-point shooter in the league (a career-high .478) didn't attempt a single 3-pointer in the game, another sign that he's not right physically.

ON SECOND THOUGHT

One by one, those in the media who panned Phoenix's acquisition of Shaquille O'Neal are recanting their criticism. And Wednesday's effort in the second half both offensively (14 points, 6-for-6 shooting in only 11 minutes) and defensively on Tim Duncan (1-for-5 in the fourth quarter) will only recruit more converts.

In two fourth quarters against the Suns with O'Neal guarding him one-on-one, Duncan has missed seven of nine shots.

"Before with Duncan, we had to double and scramble and he is one of the best passers when doubled," Suns forward Grant Hill said. "But Shaq can guard him straight up and make Tim work for everything, while we stay home on our men."

BONUS SHOT

A big week for Hakeem Olajuwon wraps up here. After being elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame on Monday, Olajuwon will have a statue in his honor unveiled outside the Toyota Center before tonight's game. Olajuwon led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA titles (1994-95).