The Phoenix Suns won for the eight straight time and clinched a playoff birth, downing Chicago 111-105. Despite the recent success, they have made little headway in the overall Western Conference standings.

Phoenix bested Chicago in a back-and-forth game that came down to the final possessions. Steve Nash was given more room to work when Kirk Hinrich twisted his ankle in the second half. A clutch three by Channing Frye and crucial free throws by Nash down the stretch made the difference, despite good performances by Derrick Rose and Flip Murray. Jason Richardson paced the Suns in scoring with 27 points.

The Suns are 17-4 since the All-Star Break. They’ve won 8 straight games for the first time since 2007. But even with the recent streak, the Suns are still only 4th in the Western Conference. That being said, the are just a game and a half out of 2nd place.

Much of the Suns’ current success can be attributed to the rejuvenated play of Amare Stoudemire. The subject of rampant trade rumors, Stoudemire has stopped pouting and started playing. Averaging nearly 28 points since the All-Star Break, Amare’s showing that he can be a true offensive force if given the right motivation. No doubt he has increased his free agent market value significantly. The Suns will need to think hard about whether they can afford to let him go, or if they decide to finally pay someone.

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Tagged with: Amare Stoudemire • basketball • Channing Frye • Grant Hill • Jason Richardson • Kirk Hinrich • NBA • Phoenix Suns • Steve Nash

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