It's just a two-game losing streak, and when you are a .500 basketball team you've had your share of those. But the Suns have used up all the cushion they had early in the season and, after putting themselves back in position to fight for the playoffs, two losses in two nights is a hard combination to come back from.
Losing at home to the Spurs was one thing. Shooting 37 percent from the field and putting in a lackluster effort in falling to the Clippers in Los Angeles is another. They aren't dead yet, but with 15 games left in the season there can't be too many more of these clunkers down the stretch.
"We didn't play well," said guard Steve Nash, who dished out 15 assists but missed all four shots from the field with an admittedly gamey back. "We didn't make shots and we gave up too many offensive rebounds (13). We have 15 games left and we have to regroup and find a way to win games as soon as possible.
"We have to be optimistic. We're lucky to still be in this position. We have overachieved thus far, but we are in a position to crawl back into the playoffs and prove everybody wrong."
The Suns played without Grant Hill and Markieff Morris and missed 21 of 26 3-pointers, with Channing Frye missing 9 of 11 by himself. And despite missing their first 13 shots in the second quarter and the bench collapsing again in the late third and early fourth quarter, they were still within seven points with seven minutes left before a flurry of Blake Griffin dunks did them in.
"We've got to play with more energy and execute better," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. "I just never thought we were really mentally engaged in the game."
The Suns gets a lengthy break, as they don't play again until hosting the Hornets on Sunday.
NOTES, QUOTES
--As bad as the Suns shot and as bad as they looked most of the night, they still had a late opportunity to put pressure on the Clippers when Frye's basket pulled Phoenix to within seven points (81-74) with seven minutes left.
But Gentry pulled center Robin Lopez, who had been instrumental in the comeback, in favor of Marcin Gortat, who had been less effective after a 12-point first quarter. Gortat missed a layup and two free throws and was caught flat-footed on two defensive sequences as Blake Griffin threw down a trio of dunks and the Clippers pulled away.
--Phoenix was able to beat the Clippers in Los Angeles on March 15 with both Nash and Hill sitting out to rest. This time, Hill was injured and Nash was hurting, but Morris (flu) was also missing and the Clippers had won five straight at Staples Center since falling to the Suns.
--The Suns finished March at 11-6; the six losses came against teams with a combined record of 182-105 (.634). Four of the losses came against Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Miami and Orlando, four of the top five teams in the NBA. Phoenix has 11 of its final 15 games against teams ahead of them in the standings.
Phoenix eases into that stretch run slowly, getting a rare run of three days off to heal and actually practice before taking on New Orleans at home Sunday night and heading to Sacramento Tuesday.
ROSTER REPORT
--G Shannon Brown started on back-to-back nights with Grant Hill still out with a knee injury. He scored a career-high 32 points Tuesday against the Spurs, but wasn't as effective Wednesday with 10 points in 38 minutes. He was 4 for 9 from the field with five rebounds, but he didn't have the same pop.
--Gortat was by far Phoenix's best offensive weapon of the night, hitting 9 of 16 shots from the field and collecting 23 points. The Suns had success inside with Gortat and Lopez (10 points in 18 minutes), with both of them on the scoring end of Steve Nash assists all night.
--Nash was bothered with back tightness Tuesday in the loss to San Antonio and, despite dishing out 15 assists against the Clippers, he attempted only four shots from the field and missed them all. He finished with one point and had eight of his 15 assists in the first 10 minutes.
