Kevin Johnson’s record is safe, for now

Jan 31, 2012, 1:53 AM | Updated: 2:07 am

Steve Nash’s pursuit of the franchise’s all-time mark for career assists is on hold.

The Suns’ point guard missed Monday night’s game against Dallas because of a left thigh injury, leaving him seven assists shy of breaking the record currently held by Ring of Honor member Kevin Johnson.

“It’s just not something that you can just bounce back from,” head coach Alvin Gentry said beforehand. “If anybody can do it, he can do it. He worked on it during shoot-around this morning and (received) treatment. He’s just not going to be able to go.”

Nash got hurt when he took a Marc Gasol knee to the thigh coming off a screen on the game’s final play against Memphis Saturday.

“(No other area) gets any more sore than that area right there from the standpoint of the blood forming in there. It gets to be tough,” continued Gentry. “I think he would’ve gutted it out if it was a playoff game but to have him go out and play right now, I don’t know if that makes a lot of sense.”

Nash, if healthy, will likely surpass Johnson when the Suns visit New Orleans Wednesday.

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Kevin Johnson’s record is safe, for now