Nash leads Suns' rout of Minnesota, 117-88

The Suns probably would love a do-over on the two games they lost in Minnesota earlier this year. But then again, all their focus is forward these days, while the Timberwolves’ future involves golf courses and the lottery balls.

SLIDESHOW: View game action photos

Suns notebook: Hill excels in return from injuries

K.J. stops by Suns game for campaign fundraiser

The Suns probably would love a do-over on the two games they lost in Minnesota earlier this year. But then again, all their focus is forward these days, while the Timberwolves’ future involves golf courses and the lottery balls.

SLIDESHOW: View game action photos

Suns notebook: Hill excels in return from injuries

K.J. stops by Suns game for campaign fundraiser

With Shaquille O’Neal erasing Minnesota’s only exploitable advantage, the Suns finished off their inferior opponent without any trouble, taking a 23-point lead before the end of the first quarter and cruising to a 117-88 win that reduced their magic number for a postseason berth to two.

The Suns won for the 11th time in their last 14 games and have a season-high seven straight wins at home heading into Sunday’s matinee with Dallas.

Phoenix remained even with Houston — tied for the No. 5 seed — and a game behind the Pacific Division-leading Lakers, both of whom won Friday.

Al Jefferson averaged 32.7 points and 16.3 rebounds in the first three meetings with Phoenix this year, mostly matched up against Amaré Stoudemire. But O’Neal set the defensive tone early and while Jefferson finished with 24 points and 12 boards, he missed 15 of 26 shots and much of his production came late with the Suns on autopilot.

“The ball is moving nicely, our defense is getting pretty solid and overall this is a pretty good basketball team,” Suns coach Mike D’Antoni said. “We’re getting better, and I expect us to finish up strong.”

After being outrebounded by 54 (153-99) and yielding 56 offensive rebounds in the first three games, the Suns enjoyed a 52-39 edge on the glass Friday with O’Neal, Grant Hill and Stoudemire getting 11, 10 and nine, respectively.

“They kind of took advantage of me when it was just me out there in the paint,” said Stoudemire, who had a run of four straight 30-point, 10-rebound games snapped only be an early hook. “But now I have a bodyguard with me with Shaq. They had a hard time with us.”

Back after missing three games with a groin injury, Hill produced 16 points — 10 of them from the line. Steve Nash had 14 points.

The Suns scored the first seven points of the game and used a 14-0 run midway through the quarter — hitting 12 of their first 17 shots — to lead by as many as 23 in the first quarter.

“We got in and got out. We didn’t want to have one of those emotional games where you have to come back from 15 down and spend a lot of energy to win,” said guard Raja Bell, who scored 15 points and was 3-for-4 on 3-pointers. “We should have plenty in the tank for Dallas Sunday.”