PHOENIX – Jared Dudley made two free throws with 3.3 seconds remaining to lift the Phoenix Suns to an 86-84 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night.
Dudley finished with a season-high 20 points, Steve Nash added 21 and Marcin Gortat finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds for the Suns, who snapped a three-game losing streak.
Rudy Gay and Marc Gasol had 18 points each and Mike Conley added 15 for the Grizzlies, who have dropped three straight after a season-best seven-game winning streak.
The Grizzlies had a chance to win but Conley, coming off a screen by Gasol at the top right of the arc, missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Nash collided with Gasol on the play and limped off the court.
Phoenix, which led by as many as 14 in the second half, was 8 for 8 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter, led by Dudley's perfect 4-for-4 shooting.
The Suns took the lead for good midway in the first quarter and held a 63-56 advantage at the start of the fourth quarter. Memphis rallied to within two twice before finally tying the game at 82 on a driving layup by Dante Cunningham with 1:24 to go.
Gortat missed a desperation 22-footer as the shot clock expired and Cunningham missed a 20-footer on the other end. But on the rebound, Gasol hooked Dudley's right arm for a loose-ball foul, setting up the decisive two free throws.
Nash, appearing in his 700th career game in a Suns uniform, entered the contest needed 13 assists to become the franchise's career leader in the category but his scoring was needed more than his ball distribution.
Nash finished 8 of 14 from the field and added two of the Suns' five 3-pointers.
Notes: Gortat has 11 straight games with double-digit rebounds, the longest active streak in the NBA and the second-longest streak of the season. ... Phoenix is 4-1 when Dudley scores 15 or more points. ... Memphis finished its four-game road trip 1-4. ... The Suns won at home for the first time since Jan. 8.
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