No Nash, no chance as Magic win
ORLANDO, Fla. » Steve Nash was in the building, so it was understandable that a point guard was racking up assists. Except Nash was in a suit, sidelined with a sore groin.
Jameer Nelson certainly took advantage.
Nelson had 15 points and a season-high 12 assists, and the Orlando Magic easily handled a Phoenix Suns team playing without Nash in a 105-89 win last night.
"Shoot. I’m a scorer," Nelson said, chuckling at his unusually high assists, one shy of his career high. Instead, he helped others get the points.
Dwight Howard added 20 points and 12 rebounds, Quentin Richardson scored 15 and every Magic starter scored in double digits.
"Everything on that team revolves around Steve Nash, so they didn’t have him tonight and they struggled," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said.
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Pacers 107, Clippers 80
Danny Granger scored 22 points and Indiana beat Los Angeles.
Trail Blazers 86, Nuggets 83
LaMarcus Aldridge scored 24 points and Wesley Matthews, playing for injured Brandon Roy (knee), added 20.
NBA STANDINGS
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic Division
| W | L | Pct | GB | |
| Boston | 9 | 2 | .818 | — |
| New Jersey | 4 | 7 | .364 | 5 |
| New York | 4 | 8 | .333 | 5 1/2 |
| Toronto | 3 | 9 | .250 | 6 1/2 |
| Philadelphia | 2 | 10 | .167 | 7 1/2 |
Southeast Division
| W | L | Pct | GB | |
| Orlando | 8 | 3 | .727 | — |
| Atlanta | 8 | 4 | .667 | 1/2 |
| Miami | 7 | 4 | .636 | 1 |
| Charlotte | 4 | 7 | .364 | 4 |
| Washington | 3 | 7 | .300 | 4 1/2 |
Central Division
| W | L | Pct | GB | |
| Chicago | 6 | 4 | .600 | — |
| Cleveland | 5 | 5 | .500 | 1 |
| Indiana | 5 | 5 | .500 | 1 |
| Milwaukee | 5 | 6 | .455 | 1 1/2 |
| Detroit | 4 | 8 | .333 | 3 |
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Southwest Division
| W | L | Pct | GB | |
| New Orleans | 9 | 1 | .900 | — |
| San Antonio | 9 | 1 | .900 | — |
| Dallas | 7 | 3 | .700 | 2 |
| Memphis | 4 | 8 | .333 | 6 |
| Houston | 3 | 8 | .273 | 6 1/2 |
Northwest Division
| W | L | Pct | GB | |
| Utah | 8 | 4 | .667 | — |
| Oklahoma City | 7 | 4 | .636 | 1/2 |
| Portland | 8 | 5 | .615 | 1/2 |
| Denver | 6 | 6 | .500 | 2 |
| Minnesota | 4 | 9 | .308 | 4 1/2 |
Pacific Division
| W | L | Pct | GB | |
| L.A. Lakers | 10 | 2 | .833 | — |
| Golden State | 7 | 4 | .636 | 2 1/2 |
| Phoenix | 6 | 6 | .500 | 4 |
| Sacramento | 3 | 7 | .300 | 6 |
| L.A. Clippers | 1 | 12 | .077 | 9 1/2 |
YESTERDAY
Indiana 107, L.A. Clippers 80
Orlando 105, Phoenix 89
Portland 86, Denver 83
TODAY
Oklahoma City at Boston, 2 p.m.
Milwaukee at Philadelphia, 2 p.m.
Houston at Toronto, 2 p.m.
Memphis at Washington, 2 p.m.
Charlotte at Miami, 2:30 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Minnesota, 3 p.m.
Cleveland at New Orleans, 3 p.m.
San Antonio at Utah, 4 p.m.
Chicago at Dallas, 4:30 p.m.
New Jersey at Sacramento, 5 p.m.
New York at Golden State, 5:30 p.m.
MAGIC 105, SUNS 89
PHOENIX
Hill 8-9 5-6 21, Turkoglu 0-8 2-2 2, Frye 4-8 0-0 10, Dragic 4-9 2-5 10, J.Richardson 3-7 0-2 7, Warrick 1-5 3-4 5, Dudley 3-5 5-5 11, Childress 2-5 3-3 7, Siler 1-2 0-0 2, Barron 0-1 2-4 2, Clark 5-9 2-2 12. Totals 31-68 24-33 89.
ORLANDO
Q.Richardson 6-10 0-0 15, Lewis 6-9 0-0 13, Howard 8-9 4-8 20, Nelson 6-8 1-1 15, Carter 5-8 1-4 13, Pietrus 4-8 0-0 10, Bass 1-5 3-4 5, Duhon 1-4 0-0 2, Gortat 1-6 2-2 4, Anderson 1-5 4-4 6, Allen 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 40-74 15-23 105.
| Phoenix | 15 | 19 | 25 | 30 | — | 89 |
| Orlando | 31 | 31 | 29 | 14 | — | 105 |
3-Point Goals–Phoenix 3-18 (Frye 2-5, J.Richardson 1-3, Warrick 0-1, Dudley 0-1, Dragic 0-3, Turkoglu 0-5), Orlando 10-25 (Q.Richardson 3-7, Nelson 2-3, Carter 2-4, Pietrus 2-5, Lewis 1-2, Anderson 0-2, Duhon 0-2). Fouled Out–None. Rebounds–Phoenix 41 (Clark, Frye 6), Orlando 47 (Howard 12). Assists–Phoenix 15 (Dragic 4), Orlando 25 (Nelson 12). Total Fouls–Phoenix 23, Orlando 27. Technicals–Orlando defensive three second 2. A–18,846 (18,500).
PACERS 107, CLIPPERS 80
L.A. CLIPPERS
Aminu 3-9 6-8 12, Griffin 6-13 0-3 12, Jordan 0-7 0-0 0, Bledsoe 3-5 2-2 8, Gordon 5-17 8-12 19, Foye 2-6 0-0 4, Gomes 0-4 2-2 2, Smith 2-5 0-0 4, Collins 0-2 0-0 0, Butler 1-3 0-0 2, Cook 3-6 4-4 11, Warren 2-4 2-2 6. Totals 27-81 24-33 80.
INDIANA
Granger 6-14 6-7 22, McRoberts 1-4 1-2 3, Hibbert 9-13 0-0 18, Ford 4-11 3-4 11, Rush 4-7 2-2 14, George 1-4 1-1 3, Hansbrough 3-4 1-2 7, Price 6-10 0-0 14, Foster 1-1 0-0 2, Posey 4-7 0-0 12, D.Jones 0-2 1-2 1. Totals 39-77 15-20 107.
| L.A. Clippers | 25 | 18 | 16 | 21 | — | 80 |
| Indiana | 22 | 31 | 27 | 27 | — | 107 |
3-Point Goals–L.A. Clippers 2-9 (Cook 1-1, Gordon 1-3, Foye 0-1, Warren 0-1, Butler 0-1, Gomes 0-2), Indiana 14-26 (Rush 4-5, Granger 4-6, Posey 4-7, Price 2-6, George 0-1, Ford 0-1). Fouled Out–None. Rebounds–L.A. Clippers 50 (Griffin, Aminu, Bledsoe 8), Indiana 56 (Hibbert, Hansbrough 8). Assists–L.A. Clippers 10 (Bledsoe 5), Indiana 24 (Price 6). Total Fouls–L.A. Clippers 18, Indiana 25. Technicals–L.A. Clippers defensive three second 2. A–12,459 (18,165).
TRAIL BLAZERS 86, NUGGETS 83
DENVER
Anthony 5-15 8-10 18, S.Williams 1-1 0-0 2, Nene 3-8 6-7 12, Billups 3-8 4-4 13, Afflalo 5-11 2-2 16, Harrington 6-11 2-2 17, Forbes 2-7 0-1 4, Lawson 0-4 1-2 1, Ely 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-65 23-28 83.
PORTLAND
Batum 5-14 2-4 14, Aldridge 9-20 6-8 24, Camby 2-10 1-2 5, Miller 8-15 0-0 16, Matthews 8-18 1-4 20, Fernandez 2-6 0-2 6, Cunningham 0-2 1-2 1, Johnson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 34-85 11-22 86.
| Denver | 28 | 17 | 26 | 12 | — | 83 |
| Portland | 16 | 27 | 26 | 17 | — | 86 |
3-Point Goals–Denver 10-26 (Afflalo 4-8, Harrington 3-7, Billups 3-7, Lawson 0-1, Anthony 0-1, Forbes 0-2), Portland 7-22 (Matthews 3-8, Fernandez 2-6, Batum 2-7, Miller 0-1). Fouled Out–Anthony. Rebounds–Denver 43 (Afflalo 11), Portland 64 (Camby 14). Assists–Denver 18 (Billups, Lawson 5), Portland 18 (Miller 6). Total Fouls–Denver 26, Portland 20. Technicals–Portland defensive three second 2. A–20,532 (19,980).
