Valley of the Suns
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Classic Suns: Steve Nash’s Near Playoff Record 23 Assists vs Lakers

By Scott Hanna-Riggs

Oct 30, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash during his induction into the Suns Ring of Honor speech during half time at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash during his induction into the Suns Ring of Honor speech during half time at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports /
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The 2015-16 Phoenix Suns season ended in early April, the 6th straight season for the Suns without a playoff appearance.

It may be getting harder and harder for Suns fans to remember, but this franchise has seen some great moments.

To help us remember, I am going to highlight one of the top playoff performances by one of the top Suns of all time, Steve Nash.

9 year ago, on April 29th, 2007, Steve Nash dished out 23 assists – in Los Angeles – with Magic Johnson at the game.

The Phoenix Suns won the game 113-100 to take a 3-1 series lead over the Los Angeles Lakers, eventually winning the series in 5 games. The Suns would lose to basketball’s evil empire, the San Antonio Spurs in the next round. To keep this article positive, I won’t recount that series any more, but here is Tim Donahue talking about the horrible officiating.

Steve Nash’s 23 assists finished one short of the NBA playoff record of 24, held by Magic Johnson and John Stockton. Nash had to settle for a tie for third, his 23 assists matching different Magic Johnson and John Stockton games.

Magic Johnson owns the list of highest assist games in the playoffs. He had 10 games of 20 or more assists over just 8 seasons. Magic’s total of 10 is more than all other players combined (8 – John Stockton with 4, Nash, Doc Rivers, Rajon Rondo, and Tim Hardaway each with 1).

It also set a new single game Suns’ playoff record, breaking Kevin Johnson’s total of 19 from 1992 against the San Antonio Spurs.

Nash was basically the only player on the Suns dishing out assists that night, accounting for 84% of the Suns assists for the game.

This was a great Suns team to watch all around, with a great example being the ridiculous assist to Shawn Marion less than 10 seconds into this highlight:

While times have been tough for Suns fans, it is important to remember: there have been good times, and there will be more to come.

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