Nash, Carter rally Suns past Nets in OT

PHOENIX – Steve Nash had 23 points and 16 assists, Vince Carter also scored 23 points, and the Phoenix Suns erased a 15-point, fourth-quarter deficit to beat the New Jersey Nets 118-109 in overtime on Wednesday night.

Nash scored 10 in overtime and Carter had his highest point total since coming from Orlando in a trade on Dec. 18.

Phoenix trailed 90-75 with eight minutes left in regulation before turning up the pressure on defense, bouncing back from a blowout loss in Denver a night earlier and winning for only the second time in six games.

Reserve Sasha Vujacic scored 19 points for the Nets, who had six players in double figures.

Nash's driving layup gave the Suns a two-point lead with 23 seconds remaining in regulation, then Kris Humphries dunked for the Nets with 16 seconds left as the game went to overtime tied at 103.

Vujacic opened the extra period with a 3-pointer, but the Suns took over from there. Carter had a putback with 1:58 left as the shot clock expired for a five-point lead, and Nash hit eight free throws in overtime.

Channing Frye scored 21 points for the Suns.

Phoenix missed its first seven shots over the second half and had two turnovers as New Jersey opened a 12-point lead in the third quarter. The Nets kept the lead in double figures and extended it to 90-75 with 8 minutes left in regulation on Vujacic's 3-pointer before the Suns rallied.

The Nets had a 57-55 halftime lead, shooting 52 percent from the field in the first half.

Notes: Suns forward Grant Hill missed his second straight game due to a sprained knee. Many in the crowd booed Vujacic, a former Los Angeles Lakers player who apparently wasn't too popular during his time in the same division as Phoenix. The Suns improved to 2-2 in overtime games this season, and all four have been at home.