Suns’ bench takes over Game 4
Reporting from Phoenix -- The fourth quarter started with the Suns clinging to a one-point lead in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals, and there stood five Phoenix reserves.
Channing Frye, Jared Dudley, Goran Dragic, Leandro Barbosa and Louis Amundson were side by side, the Suns’ bench mates preparing to do their part against the Lakers.
This quintet did the most damage, leading the Suns in the fourth quarter, pushing Phoenix to a 115-106 victory over the Lakers on Tuesday night at US Airways Center that tied the series at 2-2.
Suns All-Star guard Steve Nash, normally the one to orchestrate the Phoenix machine, said it all.
“The bench was fantastic,” said Nash, who played only 30 minutes and finished with 15 points and eight assists. “They were by far easily the difference tonight.”
The Suns’ bench scored 54 points, easily outscoring its Lakers counterpart (20 points).
The Suns’ bench had 23 rebounds, a big reason why Phoenix out-rebounded the Lakers, 51-36.
The Suns’ bench had 13 of the team’s 23 assists.
The Suns bench was 20 for 32 from the field, nine for 20 from three-point range.
“Coach [Alvin Gentry] stuck with us a little bit longer than usual and let the starters just chill over there on the bench and watch the show,” said Dudley, who came off the bench to score 11 points on four-for-seven shooting, three for six from three-point range, and grab six rebounds.
The Suns’ reserves put on a dazzling show in the fourth quarter, turning a two-point lead into a 13-point cushion.
“Alvin kept looking at the starters,” said Grant Hill, one of the starters, who played only 20 minutes. “We were like, ‘Don’t let us mess it up.’”
The run began with a Frye three-pointer.
Frye entered the game having shot only one for 20 from the field. He had missed 17 consecutive shots. He hadn’t made a three-pointer since the first quarter of Game 1.
When Frye made a three-pointer with 7:01 left in the second quarter, he pumped his fist.
“Mentally, I knew that first one was going in,” said Frye, who had 14 points and six rebounds. He was four for eight from the field, four for eight from three-point range.
Frye’s three-pointer in the fourth seemed to ignite the Suns.
Barbosa and Dudley followed with consecutive three-pointers.
“We have a group of guys that really believe in themselves,” Gentry said. “When they are going good, I don’t think that I should have to take them out.”
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