Nash shines for red-hot Suns in victory over 76ers

PHILADELPHIA,  (Reuters) – Steve Nash scored 21 points  and made 20 assists as the Phoenix Suns continued their fine  start to the season with a 119-115 victory over the  Philadelphia 76ers on Monday.
  
Jason Richardson top-scored with 29 points as the Suns  (7-1) overcame an eight-point deficit in the final quarter to  move clear of the idle LA Lakers at the top of the Western  Conference.  

Andre Iguodala led the way for the 76ers with 24 points  while Marreese Speights chipped in with 20 as Philadelphia fell  to 3-4.  
The Suns, who failed to make the playoffs last year,  trailed the 76ers 102-94 with 7:07 remaining but rallied to  post their third straight victory.  

“It’s a great start to the season for us,” Nash told  reporters after posting his first 20-20 game since the 2005-06  season.  
“We weren’t really sure what to expect from this team out  of the gate. We want to build a really nice chemistry and play  hard at the very least.”  

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Jared Dudley scored 13 of his 18 points off the bench in  the final quarter, where he made three of Phoenix’s 15  three-pointers.  
With the game tied at 108-108, Richardson scored the next  five points to give the Suns a comfortable cushion and Nash  made six straight free throws down the stretch to seal the  game.  

One of the most potent offences in the NBA, the Suns had  six players in double figures scoring.  
The 35-year-old Nash, who signed a contract extension to  stay with Phoenix in the offseason, has looked rejuvenated as  he orchestrates the team’s arsenal.  

Nash leads the league in assists and he tied his  season-high of 20 on Monday, which was two off his career best. 
The Suns finished their five-game Eastern Confer-ence road  trip with four wins while the 76ers lost for the third time in  four.  
“We were better tonight than we have been in the last three  games (but) it’s a loss. That’s about it,” Iguodala said. “We  lost the game but we should have had it.”  

Philadelphia forward Elton Brand had just 10 points and  hasn’t appeared on form this season since returning from an  shoulder injury that sidelined him for most of the 2008-09  campaign.