The Phoenix Suns hope to build on a thrilling season- opening win when they play host to the Golden State Warriors tonight.
Steve Nash sank a layup with 5.5 seconds left, moments after the Clippers' Rasual Butler hit a game-tying three-pointer, to give the Suns a 109-107 win over LA in their season-opener at Staples Center on Wednesday.
Nash finished with 24 points, 15 of which came in the fourth quarter, and his biggest shot was a left-handed layup in the closing moments of a close game.
The Suns' Leandro Barbosa drained a three-pointer with 23 seconds left, and on the other end, Butler connected on a three from the top of the arc with 11.9 to play, making it a 107-107 game.
Nash had the ball on Phoenix's ensuing possession, and a fairly wide-open lane developed on the left side. The point guard drove through it, sinking a high- arcing left-hander to put the Suns back on top.
The Clippers still had one chance, but Eric Gordon missed the long three-point attempt as the Suns sealed the win in their first game of the 2009-10 campaign.
"I told our guys we played hard and did a lot of good things, but we missed some easy shots," Clippers head coach Mike Dunleavy said. "Steve Nash is a two-time MVP, he was slicing and dicing us in the fourth quarter. You have to tip your cap to him, he's a great player."
Grant Hill finished with 19 points and 13 rebounds for the Suns, who went 46-36 last season, snapping a string of four consecutive playoff appearances. Amare Stoudemire, who missed the last two months of last season with an eye injury, was back for Phoenix and ended with 16 points. Barbosa contributed 17 points in the victory, while Nash added eight assists.
"This is a big win for our confidence," Nash said. "We scrapped and fought tonight. You get competitive in the fourth quarter, and I was able to get some shots to fall for us."
The Warriors, meanwhile, dropped their opener in Oakland on Wednesday when Houston's Aaron Brooks orchestrated a balanced Rockets offense with 18 points and 12 assists, as Houston edged Golden State 108-107 at ORACLE Arena.
Monta Ellis had a team-high 26 points for the Warriors, which missed the playoffs for a second consecutive season in 2008-09. Stephen Jackson added 17 points, and Kelenna Azubuike netted 13 in the loss.
Stephen Curry, the seventh-overall pick in the 2009 Draft, finished with 14 points and seven assists in his NBA debut.
Phoenix has dominated Golden State in the Valley of the Sun recently winning eight straight overall.
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