Read More: Alvin Gentry (H – PHO), Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns didn’t make it easy on themselves but a strong showing from the second unit to start the fourth quarter gave them the separation needed to get a victory over the Charlotte Bobcats.

The Bobcats pushed their halftime lead to ten points early in the third quarter before Alvin Gentry called a time out. From that point on the Suns had the game tied at the end of three and were up 10 halfway through the fourth quarter.

The hero of the night was Robin Lopez who scored 13 points to go along with six rebounds and solid defense in his 19 minutes of play. Josh Childress was strong as well as the bench was able to allow Steve Nash to rest until the four minute mark.

“The major problem was when Lopez came in,” Bobcats coach Paul Silas said, “We didn’t box him out and it really just changed the whole game around.”

The Suns held the Bobcats to and just 17 points in the fourth quarter with about half of those coming in the final desperate minutes. Phoenix was led by Michael Redd who got the start in place of the injured Jared Dudley. Redd finished with 17 points on 6-12 shooting. Rookie point guard Kemba Walker had 22 points for Charlotte.

The much-needed home win gives the Suns a 9-14 record on the season while the Bobcats fall to 3-21. The Suns now travel to Atlanta to face the Hawks on Monday and then to Milwaukee to meet the Bucks on Tuesday.

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Suns coach Alvin Gentry has an ideal description for Jared Dudley’s play — parasitic.

Dudley is the NBA’s parasite. He using his hustle, savvy and opportunity to benefit at the expense of those who are less engaged. The latest example has been his play since returning to the starting lineup. He has feasted off being fouled, took advantage of point guard Steve Nash creating open 3-point shots and using angles and reads to get to balls against players who are bigger or quicker.

The Suns had to go without that Saturday night, when Dudley sat out the Suns’ home game against Charlotte because of a thigh bruise. Dudley has scored at least 15 points in each of the four starts he has made since a five-game bench stint. He went from averaging 5.8 points as a reserve to averaging 16.3 in those four starts.

“This is what I was supposed to do,” Dudley said. “I expected to do this just because I know I can shoot the ball, and I know I can play, especially with Steve and this offense. I think I’ve even added a dimension where I can get to the basket to drop off and make my teammates better.”

The Suns are 5-3 when Dudley scores 15, but that scoring was inconsistent on his first go-around as starter this season, when he opened it in a shooting slump. Dudley has made eight of his past 15 3s, bolstering his career-best season for scoring (10.8) and rebounding (4.1) averages.

Dudley shot 3 for 13 in the first two games, both losses, and did not score in the second game against Philadelphia — a remarkable no-no for a starting shooting guard .

“The chemistry in the first part of the season was tough,” Dudley said. “Guys were staying home close (to me on defense). I’ve had a lot more space and been able to put the ball down better. Once you hit a couple, it’s confidence. I told you in the beginning of the year that you go by percentages. At the end of the year, I’m going to be shooting a good percentage.”

Dudley had scored 23 of his 65 points over the previous four games at the free-throw line. It was the first time in his career that he shot at least four free throws in four consecutive games.

“It’s something I’ve worked on, and my free-throw percentage (81.4) has gotten better,” Dudley said. “That’s something I worked on, and that makes you even more aggressive. It’s hard for me to get all the way to the basket because I’m not the fastest guy. Usually someone’s on my hip and (I) try to do what the whole NBA does — flop and … pray for a call. I did theater in seventh, eighth, ninth and 10th grades, so I have to pay off for those classes.”

Guard Michael Redd started in Dudley’s place Saturday night, getting his first start with Phoenix in 10 appearances.

Free throws

- Suns center Marcin Gortat has a chance to become the seventh Suns player to average at least 15 points and 10 rebounds in a season. One of the others was current Charlotte coach Paul Silas. Charles Barkley (four times), Shawn Marion (three) and Neal Walk (two) did it multiple times, and Connie Hawkins and Maurice Lucas also each did it once.

- The Suns have played 23 games in this lockout-shortened season. The NBA’s previous lockout-shortened schedule, in 1999, tipped off on this date — Feb. 5.

- This season is the 20th for US Airways Center. The Suns have a losing record at home this season but have the fourth-best home record in the NBA since the arena opened with in 1992-93, when the Suns reached the NBA Finals. They have won more than 70 percent of their home games.

The Phoenix Suns haven’t earned too many wins lately, especially at home,
but a matchup with the NBA’s worst team would appear to provide the opportunity
for a rare victory.

The Suns will try to record their second win in six games at the U.S.
Airways Center on Saturday night when they face the short-handed Charlotte
Bobcats.

Phoenix (8-14) is 4-10 over its last 14 games after a 99-81 loss in Houston
on Friday in which it trailed by 20 points at the half.

“We need to play harder and play ‘grown-man’ basketball and not get pushed
around,” coach Alvin Gentry said. “You have to compete and match energy with
energy. I wasn’t pleased with anything we did.”

The Suns’ next opponent knows displeasure all too well.

The Bobcats (3-20) have lost 10 straight for their longest skid since a
franchise-record 13 consecutive defeats Jan. 11-Feb. 1, 2006. They’re also 1-12
on the road this season and on the verge of losing 11 in a row there for the
first time since Nov. 7, 2007-Jan. 4, 2008.

To make matters worse, Charlotte likely won’t have leading scorer Gerald
Henderson for two to four weeks because of a strained right hamstring. An
injured toe has kept starting point guard D.J. Augustin out of the last six
games, including the worst loss in franchise history Wednesday.

After getting beat by 33 points to open a four-game trip, the Bobcats were
thumped 112-68 by Portland.

“It’s been unbelievably hard. And there’s really nothing I can do about it.
The guys are playing as hard as they can. We just don’t have enough (talent) at
this particular point,” coach Paul Silas said. “You take the three top players
off anyone’s team, and they’re not going to do well.”

The Bobcats, though, have done well against the Suns lately with four
straight wins in the series and two in a row in Phoenix after dropping their
first five games there.

Boris Diaw had 18 points against his former team during a 114-107 win at the
U.S. Airways Center on Jan. 26, 2011, but the other five players who scored in
double figures in that game are either injured or no longer with the team.

The forward also scored a team-best 26 points during a 123-105 home victory
on Nov. 20, 2010. He has averaged 23.0 points on 66.7 percent shooting and 9.0
rebounds over his last three games in Phoenix, where he played three-plus
seasons before being traded in a six-player deal Dec. 11, 2008.

Steve Nash, meanwhile, will try to improve on his 24.0-point average over
his last three home matchups with Charlotte. He scored 27 points on 11-of-15
shooting during the loss on Jan. 26.

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