PHOENIX, Jan. 15 (UPI) -- Steve Nash put Phoenix in front for good with 1:12 remaining Friday and the Suns hung on to win a tense duel with Portland 115-111.
Neither side had more than a four-point lead during the fourth period and the Suns did not wrap up the game until Nash made two free throws with 4 seconds remaining to account for the final score.
The last lead change of the game came when Nash hit a 3-pointer to put the Suns in front 110-108.
Phoenix won for the third time in four games and the Trail Blazers have dropped three straight. Portland is playing without all-star Brandon Roy, who will be out indefinitely while he recovers from arthroscopic surgery on both knees.
Nash scored 23 points, Grant Hill had 21 and Vince Carter produced 17 for the Suns, who shot 53 percent from the field but missed 11 of their 32 attempts from the foul line.
Portland got 26 points from Wesley Matthews and 25 from LaMarcus Aldridge.
