Suns Use Brains and Brawn

Rip up the script.

The Phoenix Suns don’t always get out-rebounded. They don’t always get pushed around. And every once in a while, they actually win with their defense.

They had quite a few things to prove after their embarrassing Game 2 home loss, and checked them off the list, one line at a time, in a 94-91 victory Friday over the Clippers in Game 3.

They were much more respectable in rebounding, falling one shy of the 47 taken by the Clippers.

They added size to their starting lineup and matched the Clippers, muscle for muscle.

They also played some defense, letting Elton Brand and Vladimir Radmanovic slip away but keeping the rest of the Clippers in check.

The Suns, an underrated defensive team? Coach Mike D’Antoni thinks so.

“I do,” he said. “You don’t win 54 games just by outshooting people.”

After getting shaken in Game 2, the Suns stirred up their lineup for Game 3. Sensitive to the fact they were out-rebounded Wednesday, 57-26, they made an effort to add a couple of inches in height and, they hoped, take a few more rebounds.

It worked.

Power forward Shawn Marion guarded Sam Cassell, a four-inch difference in height and an immeasurable difference in speed, although Marion managed to stay with him.

Cassell had six points and four assists and played only 35 seconds in the fourth quarter.

Suns forward Tim Thomas replaced James Jones as a starter and covered Elton Brand, who had blistered the Suns for 33.5 points a game in the first two games.

Brand had 20 points on seven-for-17 shooting in Game 3. He also had nine rebounds and eight assists.

Steve Nash reduced his workload by guarding Quinton Ross, who was averaging only 6.1 points in the playoffs.

D’Antoni revealed one more switch before the game.

“I’m guarding Mike Dunleavy,” he said. “I’m taking him out.”

The Suns failed to take out the Lakers in a similar situation in the first round, falling behind in the series, 3-1, after dropping Games 3 and 4 at Staples Center.

Here they were again, trying to yank back home-court advantage after losing it.

“Kind of deja vu,” Suns guard Raja Bell said beforehand. “We don’t want too much deja vu, though.”

Same place, different result.

The Suns finally won a playoff game when scoring fewer than 100 points, ending an 0-4 trend over the first two rounds.

Marion also played one of his best games of the season, finishing with 32 points, 19 rebounds and four steals. He made 12 of 24 shots.

Marion, who had only 13 points and six rebounds in Game 2, converted a three-point play to give the Suns a 92-86 lead with 49.2 seconds left to play.

The Suns weren’t flawless.

Radmanovic scorched them for 18 points and scored 14 consecutive points for the Clippers in the fourth quarter.

Bell was also relatively quiet, fouling out with 2:36 left in the fourth quarter. He had 14 points.

In the end, though, Nash’s 14-foot fadeaway made the difference with 3.6 seconds to play. The Suns had won, in a most unusual way.

“It’s certainly not the typical Suns way, that’s for sure,” Nash said.