Suns notebook: Hill’s injury not believed serious

The Suns wanted to win the game Monday, but they wanted to get out of the game healthy. Midway through the fourth quarter, it looked as if they might finish 0-for-2.

Suns bounce Warriors from playoff hunt, 122-116

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But not only did the Suns rally to beat Golden State 122-116, the aggravation of the groin injury that Grant Hill suffered in the second quarter doesn’t appear to be too serious.

Hill, who had 12 points his first 12 minutes, was attempting to finish a fast-break layup when he appeared to overstride on the play. His face showed some pain while he was still in the air and he limped back down the floor before the Suns called a timeout.

“He said he tweaked it, so we’ll probably hold him out Wednesday (in the season finale against Portland) as a precaution,” Phoenix coach Mike D’Antoni said. “We want him to be ready on Saturday or Sunday or wherever we go. And I say that without having any knowledge (on the extent of the injury) whatsoever.”

After the game, Hill felt the tweak was minor and on his way out of the arena said he wanted to play Wednesday. When he found out D’Antoni planned to rest him, Hill turned around and headed back to the dressing room to plead his case.

Trainer Aaron Nelson said the injury is minor and Hill is listed a day-to-day.

WHERE’S BARON?

In a game the Warriors had to win to stay in the playoff race, coach Don Nelson benched star guard Baron Davis after he missed 11 of 13 shots in the first half, scoring seven points in 17 minutes.

Davis didn’t want to talk to reporters afterward and Nelson’s only direct comment on the subject was “I gave Baron a much-needed rest in the second half.”

The move almost worked when the Warriors scored 38 points in the third quarter, 16 by Stephen Jackson. But the Warriors couldn’t hold on and even after the Suns rallied, Davis remained on the bench.

Steve Nash said Davis sitting might have played a role in the Suns relaxing in the third quarter.

STAT COMES ALIVE

Fighting a bad cold he said sapped him of a lot of energy, Amaré Stoudemire was able to score 11 points in the fourth quarter — seven from the foul line — as the Suns went back to their small lineup (sans Shaquille O’Neal) and used the Stoudemire/Nash pick-and-roll offense as their main weapon.

“Fatigue definitely came on a lot faster than normal,” Stoudemire said. “It was hard for me to get my energy up. I still feel it now, but I was able to get it going in the fourth quarter and give us that spark to help get us the win.”

Stoudemire said he wasn’t sure if the Suns could come back after giving back a 17-point lead and trailing by 11 in the fourth quarter.

“My thought was we had to have this win, so I’m going to try to dominate to the best of my ability.”

BONUS SHOTS

Indiana’s loss at Washington on Monday allowed the Atlanta Hawks to clinch the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and deny the Suns one last chance at a lottery pick as a result of the Joe Johnson trade in 2005. The Hawks have the poorest record of any playoff team, so the Suns will have the 15th overall selection in the June draft.

The Suns have won 12 of their past 15 games against Western Conference teams after starting the season 18-18.