Nash out; Marion questionable tonight
January 10th, 2008, 1:21 pm · Post a Comment · posted by jerrybrown
The Suns will be without two starters — and perhaps even a third tonight against the Jazz.
Already without Grant Hill for 2-3 weeks (appendix), the Suns will play without guard Steve Nash — who stayed home with a bad case of the flu.
Suns coach Mike D’Antoni said Nash was in a hospital emergency room about midnight Thursday and received an IV fluid bag to counteract the dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea. Nash felt better in the morning and toyed with the idea of following the team to Salt Lake City, but trainer Aaron Nelson nixed the plan.
D’Antoni said forward Shawn Marion is also a game-time decision tonight after taking a nasty fall on his right shoulder and elbow in the fourth quarter of the 129-122 overtime win over Indiana. X-rays on both areas were negative, but Marion is still very sore — he was unable to lift his right arm after the game.
Leandro Barbosa will start in place of Nash — the Suns are 6-0 when Barbosa starts this year, but that stat will get a severe test tonight. If Marion can’t play, Raja Bell will shift to the small forward spot and Marcus Banks will join Barbosa in the backcourt and team with Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw.
The Suns have summoned guard D.J. Strawberry a day early from Albuquerque of the NBA Developmental League and he will be with Phoenix tonight.
