Suns extend streak to 17 at Cleveland

Though Phoenix just keeps on winning, the Suns insist they aren’t focused on their winning streak.

Steve Nash simply won’t allow it.

Nash scored 23 points and kept Phoenix’s high-energy offense purring with 15 assists as the Suns extended their winning streak to 17 games -- the NBA’s longest in seven years -- by beating the Cavaliers, 115-100, Sunday at Cleveland.

Phoenix’s 17-game streak is tied for the fifth-longest in NBA history, and with three more victories the Suns would match the second-best streak, a 20-gamer by the 1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks.

“The way they’re playing right now, they’re unbeatable,” LeBron James said.

Nash isn’t convinced.

“People don’t talk about the [NBA record] 33-game streak, they talk about who won the championship that year,” Nash said, noting the Lakers won the league title in ‘71-’72. “I don’t feel unbeatable. We’ve got a lot of improving to do.”

Shawn Marion scored 23 points, Amare Stoudemire had 22 and Leandro Barbosa had 19 for the Suns, who improved to 35-3 since opening the season 1-5. Phoenix, which had a 15-game win streak this season, also matched a franchise record with its ninth straight road win and is 20-1 versus Eastern Conference teams.

“No matter what you do defensively, he’s going to find a way to counter it,” James said of Nash. “No matter how you try to stop him, he’s got the weapons. That’s a heck of a team.”

James scored 30 points to lead the Cavaliers, who were within four points going into the fourth.