Nash, Suns Beat Kings For 3rd Straight Victory

March 5, 2012 5:19 AM

Shannon Brown #26 of the Phoenix Suns shoots against the Sacramento Kings in an NBA game played on March 4, 2012 at U.S. Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona.(Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)

PHOENIX (AP) — Steve Nash had 19 points, Marcin Gortat scored 14 and matched his season high with 17 rebounds, and the Phoenix Suns won their third in a row with a 96-88 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night.

In all three wins, the Suns rallied from double-digit deficits, something the franchise hadn’t done since November 2002.

Jared Dudley scored eight of his 14 in the fourth quarter, when Phoenix pulled away. Shannon Brown added 13, including consecutive 3-pointers in the decisive run to open the final period.

Marcus Thornton scored 23 and Tyreke Evans 17 for Sacramento. DeMarcus Cousins added 16 points and 14 rebounds, but the Kings shot just 33 percent in the second half to fall to 4-19 on the road.