Nash scores 42 to outshine Kidd Nash scores 42 to outshine Kidd's triple-double in Suns win
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 8, 2006 12:00 AM
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - As the Nets home crowd was informed that Jason Kidd had just tied Wilt Chamberlain for the third most triple-doubles in NBA history, only Steve Nash could get Kidd to do something he rarely does on the court - smile.
Nash patted the back of fellow point guard and his former teammate/mentor's head and said, "You've only got 75 more than me."
De-icing Kidd's game face is not the only thing Nash can do. Only Nash could steal his thunder - and a Suns win, their league-best eighth in a row - as he did here in Thursday's dramatic 161-157 Phoenix victory in double overtime over New Jersey. advertisement
Kidd was unbelievable. Nash was unbeatable. Kidd had 38 points, 14 rebounds and 14 assists to lead the Nets to a franchise scoring record but dribbled off his foot on a potential game-tying possession at the end of the second overtime and missed a game-winner at the close of the first overtime.
Nash posted a regular-season career high of 42 points, added 13 assists, hit a three-pointer to tie the game at the end of regulation and had nine of his points and three of his assists in the decisive sixth period.
A game after dishing 20 assists, Nash used the flick of his wrist and the smooth, outstretched scoop of his hands to hit 16 of 25 shots in Phoenix's second highest-scoring game ever (173 vs. Denver in 1990 is the record). New Jersey, fueled by a scolding from team President Rod Thorn, ran its hearts out against Phoenix but stayed in step to make the Suns a tired team rolling into Boston for tonight's game.
"I would've been sick if we would've lost," Nash said. "That's what it comes down to is just not wanting to lose. I don't care how many points or what happens in the storyline. Win or lose, that's all I was thinking about.
"We had won or lost a number of times. It's mentally a great challenge to stay focused and on top."
Even topping last year's Suns-Knicks triple-overtime thriller in New York, the teams combined for a tie for the fourth most points ever scored in a NBA game. The only scar left on the game was Nets coach Lawrence Frank's decision to leave in Vince Carter when he told his team to take a foul at the end of the fourth quarter. Carter, who was 13 of 17 from the field for 31 points, fouled out with 4.8 seconds to go.
With 4.4 seconds to go in regulation and the Suns in a 133-130 hole, Nash used the best screener in the business, Kurt Thomas, to shake loose and dropped the tying shot off of one of 14 Boris Diaw assists. Nash was 6 of 7 from three-point range, as was Raja Bell before he fouled out in the first overtime.
It was the league's highest scoring game in 16 years.
"I just told our guys I think we can go home tonight and turn on classic NBA and it will be on already because that was the best game I have ever seen," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said. " . . . Those two points guards have the will. They wouldn't let their teams lose."