Suns Strokes: J.R. Smith spoils Jared Dudley’s career night

Dec 27, 2012, 5:59 AM | Updated: 6:00 am

Sure, you could read the box score and know who won, but we all know that won’t tell you everything that happened in a basketball game. So, we will give you Suns Strokes, providing you with the analysis, quotes and notes from the Suns’ 99-97 loss to the Knicks on December 26.

The Good:

Jared Dudley scored a career-high 36 points, the most scored by a Suns player this season and the most by a Sun overall since November 28, 2010 (39, Jason Richardson at Denver). Dudley shot 11-of-17, including 5-of-8 from three while hitting all nine of his free throws to give him his fifth-straight home game of 19 or more points, the longest such streak of his career. It was also the longest streak of its kind by a Suns’ players since Amare Stoudemire (January 28-March 19, 2010).

The Bad:

Knicks’ guard J.R. Smith hit a 21-foot jumpshot as the buzzer sounded to hand the Suns their third straight defeat. The play came moments after the Suns’ 14th and final turnover of the night. In the final five minutes, the Suns turned it over four times, including on back-to-back possessions leading to five straight points for the Knicks, who went from down two (90-88) to up three (90-93) with 4:10 remaining.

He Said It:

“We just can’t seem to get that right and that’s where all of our troubles started,” head coach Alvin Gentry said of the second quarter when the Suns scored a season-low 15 points. “We had no rhythm whatsoever in that quarter. We didn’t move the basketball and we got ourselves in trouble.”

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Phoenix Suns' Shaquille O'Neal (32) dunks the ball over New York Knicks' Al Harrington, left and Knicks' David Lee, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009 in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Phoenix Suns' Leandro Barbosa (10), of Brazil, drives past New York Knicks' Al Harrington during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009 in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Phoenix Suns' Amare Stoudemire (1) shoots over New York Knicks' Quentin Richardson (23) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009 in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Knicks' David Lee (42) dunks the ball as Phoenix Suns' Amare Stoudemire (1) looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009 in New York. Lee scored 25 points as the Knicks won the game 114-109. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Phoenix Suns' Shaquille O'Neal (32) blocks a shot by New York Knicks' David Lee (42) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009 in New York. The Knicks won the game 114-109. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Knicks' Tim Thomas (2) tries to protect the ball from Phoenix Suns' Shaquille O'Neal (32) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009 in New York. Tim Thomas scored all 10 of his points in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter and the New York Knicks beat the Phoenix Suns 114-109. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Knicks' Nate Robinson (4) drives past Phoenix Suns' Leandro Barbosa (10), of Brazil, during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009 in New York. The Knicks won the game 114-109. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Phoenix Suns' Jason Richardson (23) reacts to a call during the second half of a basketball game against the New York Knicks, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009 in New York. The Suns lost the game 114-109. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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