RAJA BELL
Spurs can't finish off Suns, lead 3-1
Raja Bell and the Suns finally got into the win column vs. the defending champs, avoiding elimination with a Game 4 rout.
Bell, Barbosa Lead 3-Point Onslaught as Suns Rout Bobcats
Leandro Barbosa scored 30 points and Raja Bell added 24, including a season-high seven 3-pointers, to help the Phoenix Suns stay unbeaten against Charlotte with a 118-104 victory over the Bobcats on Monday night. - Read More...
Hill to have appendix out, miss 2 weeks
Suns forward Grant Hill was scheduled to undergo an appendectomy Wednesday evening and is expected to miss at least two weeks. Hill felt ill after arriving at the US Airways Center for practice Wednesday morning, Suns spokeswoman Julie Fie said. At first, everyone assumed he had the same flu that teammate Raja Bell recently had. But after being taken to see a physician, it was determined to be more serious. He was hospitalized and scheduled for surgery.
Bell Scores Season-High 20 as Suns Ward Off Magic
Raja Bell had a season-high 20 points to pace the Suns to a 110-106 victory on Friday night over the Orlando Magic, the NBA's winningest team. - Read More...
Stoudemire returns, Suns rally to beat Heat
Steve Nash scored 11 straight points in the fourth quarter and finished with 30 to go with eight assists, and the Phoenix Suns added to Miami's season-opening misery by rallying past the Heat 106-101 Friday night. Leandro Barbosa finished with 17 points, Raja Bell scored 16 and Shawn Marion added 17 points and 24 rebounds for Phoenix, which shot 15-for-33 from 3-point range.
Suns share wealth without Stoudemire
Leandro Barbosa, Raja Bell and Shawn Marion led eight players in double figures with 16 points apiece and the Phoenix Suns continued their dominance of the Eastern Conference with a 115-83 win over the Charlotte Bobcats on Tuesday night. The Bobcats, who had been 2-0 for the first time in their four-year history, trailed by as many as 34 points against the Suns. Phoenix has now won 15 of its last 16 road games against Eastern teams dating to last season.
Barbosa, Suns Rout Jazz
Leandro Barbosa scored 28 points and Raja Bell added 24 as the Phoenix Suns beat the Utah Jazz 124-101 in a preseason game Monday night. - Read More...
Suns Teammates Want Marion to Stay
In THE EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE, Jerry Brown writes "Steve Nash last talked to Shawn Marion in July, after trade rumors had "The Matrix"heading to Boston in a Kevin Garnett deal. Coach Mike D'Antoni spoke to Marion in early September, about the time the Suns and Utah Jazz are known to have had at least cursory discussions involving a possible Marion for Andrei Kirilenko deal. Raja Bell called Marion Tuesday; the same day Marion went public with a request that he be traded from the Suns ? preferably to the rival Lakers, where he can join forces with Kobe Bryant." - Read More...
Raja Bell Has Successful Surgery
Doug Haller of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC writes, "Suns guard Raja Bell had successful arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Thursday at Banner Good Samaritan Hospital. Dr. Tom Carter performed the surgery. 'Raja had mild wear and tear of his knee cap,' Carter said in a statement released by the team. 'This was simply a clean-up procedure. He should experience a full recovery in four to six weeks without any limitations on his play.'" - Read More...
Suns guard Bell undergoes surgery on right knee
Suns guard Raja Bell had surgery on his right knee and will sidelined four to six weeks. - Read More...
Suns' Marion finds motivation in defensive snub
Raja Bell got a surprise Monday. So did Shawn Marion.Bell, the Phoenix Suns guard, was rewarded for his defense, notably his ...
Suns move closer toward second seed
The Phoenix Suns won with their usual balance. Steve Nash had 25 points and 11 assists for his career-best 50th double-double, and the Suns beat the Los Angeles Lakers 115-107 Sunday to move 2 1/2 games ahead of San Antonio for the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. Leandro Barbosa scored 23 points, Raja Bell added 22, Amare Stoudemire had 19 points and nine rebounds and Shawn Marion added 12 for Phoenix (58-19), which won for the fifth time in its last six games.
Suns make quick work of Grizzlies
Raja Bell hit six 3-pointers and scored 29 points, Amare Stoudemire had 27 points and 12 rebounds, and the Phoenix Suns added to lowly Memphis road woes, beating the short-handed Grizzlies 105-87 Monday night. The Grizzlies, the only team eliminated from playoff contention, fell to an NBA-worst 17-54 and 5-30 away from home, also the league's worst mark. Phoenix, the Pacific Division champions for the third straight season, are only one win away from matching last year's win total of 54.
Suns Win 16th Straight Game; Top Bucks
Raja Bell scored 27 points to lead all five Phoenix starters in double figures, and the Suns set a franchise record with their 16th straight victory by beating the scrappy Milwaukee Bucks 98-90 on Friday night. - Read More...
Suns' Bell suspended one game
Phoenix Suns guard Raja Bell was suspended one game without pay for kicking Andrea Bargnani of the Toronto Raptors, the league announced Friday. The incident occurred in the third quarter of a game in Toronto on Wednesday. Bell, in his second year with Phoenix and his seventh in the NBA, is averaging a career-high 15.2 points. He's fifth in the league with 2.7 3-pointers per game. Bell will serve the suspension Friday night when the Suns host the Miami Heat.
Rising Sun draws comparisons to Ainge
USA TODAY's David DuPree, in one of his chapters examining how NBA stars play the game, explores Phoenix Suns guard Raja Bell. ...
Balanced Suns Cruise Past Knicks
Steve Nash and Raja Bell scored 20 points apiece, and the Phoenix Suns coasted past New York 108-86 Friday night in the opener of a five-game road trip for the Knicks. - Read More...
Phoenix remains in offensive groove
Shawn Marion had 29 points and Steve Nash added 16 points and 14 assists to help the Phoenix Suns extend their winning streak to nine games with a 116-111 victory over the Boston Celtics on Friday night. Raja Bell and Boris Diaw each added 14 points for Phoenix, coming off a 161-157 double-overtime victory in New Jersey on Thursday night. The Suns have won 11 of 12 after starting the season 1-5. Paul Pierce scored 36 points for Boston, and Ryan Gomes and Tony Allen added 18 each.
Phoenix cruises past Portland
Raja Bell had a season-high 30 points, including seven 3-pointers, and the Phoenix Suns beat the Portland Trail Blazers 119-101 on Sunday night. The Suns led by as many as 25 points, and all of their starters scored in double figures in the team's fourth straight win after a slow start to the season. Amare Stoudemire, coming back from surgery on his left knee that forced him to miss all but three games last season, had 20 points and 11 rebounds. Steve Nash had 23 points and 10 assists.
Suns' Banks Learning To Adjust
Bob Young of THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC writes, "From the outside, playing in the Suns' system must look simple and fun. But Marcus Banks is discovering, just as Raja Bell did a year ago, that the adjustment isn't as easy as it looks." - Read More...
Suns have Game 6 to survive
The Phoenix Suns are going to need another Game 7 if they're going to make it to the NBA Finals. First, though, they've got to win Game 6. With Raja Bell hobbling, Steve Nash struggling with his shot and fatigue maybe taking a toll, the Suns lost 117-101 to Dallas on Thursday night and fell behind 3-2 in the Western Conference finals. "We just got discombobulated in the fourth quarter," Shawn Marion said. "We had it going our way, then the next thing you know we just went the other way.
Mavs Must Not Let Their Guard Down
In the STAR-TELEGRAM, Jeff Caplan writes that "the Western Conference Finals is boiling down to a battle of the backcourts. Raja Bell and the Suns struck the latest blow. His surprise start in Game 4 gave the Suns another 3-point threat, eased the pressure on Steve Nash and allowed Leandro Barbosa to reel off a game-high 24 points from his more comfortable, season long role as the sixth man. The Mavs' backcourt abandoned its strategy to attack the rim and settled for jump shots in Game 4." - Read More...
Bell sore but ready to play in Game 5
Though understandably sore on Wednesday, Raja Bell was confident he would be ready to play when the Phoenix Suns meet the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals. Bell made a surprise start Tuesday night after missing two games with a slight tear in his left calf muscle. His presence injected the Suns with an emotional intensity that led to a 106-86 romp that evened the series at two games apiece.
Suns' Energy Returns in Game 4 With Bell
In the ARIZONA REPUBLIC, Paola Boivin writes that Raja Bell "may have a tear in his left calf muscle but there's not a single fissure in his spirit. The man may have a slow-healing injury, but there's no rehabbing necessary for his will. In a matter of minutes, the Suns guard abandoned the training room and slipped into a phone booth. In a matter of minutes, he transformed from 'extremely doubtful' to 'starter.' While his return lacked the drama of Willis Reed dragging his injured right leg onto the court in 1970 and surprising New York Knicks fans in Game 7, it provided an emotional lift that could be the most significant decision of the Western Conference finals." - Read More...
Suns pull even with Mavs as Bell returns to floor
Raja Bell supplied the grit, and his Phoenix teammates took care of the offense. Leandro Barbosa scored 24 points and the Suns, ...
Stoudemire, Suns Shut Down Surging Sixers
Amare Stoudemire scored 22 points, Raja Bell had 20 and the Phoenix Suns avoided their first three-game losing streak of the season with a 107-93 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night. - Read More...
Suns Rally Past Pacers to OT Win Without Nash
Raja Bell sank two 3-pointers in the final 2 1/2 minutes of overtime and the Phoenix Suns rallied from 16 points down without Steve Nash to beat the Indiana Pacers 129-122 on Wednesday night. - Read More...
Bell's season-high 20 helps Suns cool Magic
Raja Bell is finally healthy, and boy is he excited about it. So are the Phoenix Suns. Bell had a season-high 20 points to pace ...
Suns' Bell Misses Second Straight Game
In the ARIZONA REPUBLIC, Paul Coro writes "Suns guard Raja Bell missed his second consecutive game Tuesday night due to his sprained right ankle. Bell tested the ankle at Tuesday's shootaround and decided to delay his return until at least Thursday's home game with Chicago. He will be re-evaluated at today's practice. Bell missed seven games in his first two Suns seasons. Bell sprained the ankle Friday in Miami when, after being called for traveling, he took a jumper and landed on Shaquille O'Neal's foot." - Read More...
Suns Use Balanced Attack to Rout Bobcats
Leandro Barbosa, Raja Bell and Shawn Marion led eight players in double figures with 16 points apiece and the Phoenix Suns continued their dominance of the Eastern Conference with a 115-83 win over the Charlotte Bobcats on Tuesday night. - Read More...
NBA 2007-08 Season Pacific Division Previews
Okay, so it's an old picture of Steve Nash, but seeing him and Raja Bell cracking up was too hard to resist to post up. You gotta love Getty... - Read More...
NBA 2007-08 Season Pacific Division Previews
Okay, so it's an old picture of Steve Nash, but seeing him and Raja Bell cracking up was too hard to resist to post up. You gotta love Getty... - Read More...
Raja Bell Has Successful Surgery
Doug Haller of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC writes, "Suns guard Raja Bell had successful arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Thursday at Banner Good Samaritan Hospital. Dr. Tom Carter performed the surgery. 'Raja had mild wear and tear of his knee cap,' Carter said in a statement released by the team. 'This was simply a clean-up procedure. He should experience a full recovery in four to six weeks without any limitations on his play.'" - Read More...
Suns' Bell has arthroscopic knee surgery
Suns guard Raja Bell had surgery on his right knee and will sidelined four to six weeks. The arthroscopic surgery was performed Thursday. Team physician Dr. Tom Carter said Bell had mild wear and tear of his kneecap. The doctor said Bell's play should not be limited after the four-to-six week period. Bell averaged 14.7 points and 2.5 assists this season.
Raja Bell Undergoes Successful Surgery
Phoenix Suns guard Raja Bell underwent successful arthroscopic surgery for general debridement on his right knee yesterday at Banner Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. The surgery was performed by Suns team physician Dr. Tom Carter. - Read More...
Suns take advantage of depleted Sonics
Shawn Marion had 24 points and 10 rebounds, and the Phoenix Suns stayed two games ahead of San Antonio in the fight for the No. 2 playoff spot in the Western Conference with a 109-91 victory Wednesday night over the depleted Seattle SuperSonics. Leandro Barbosa added 20 points as six Suns reached double figures in the team's 59th victory of the season. Amare Stoudemire had 18 points and 11 rebounds. Raja Bell scored 14 points. Steve Nash had 11 points and nine assists.
Sharp-Shooting Suns Down Grizzlies
Raja Bell hit six 3-pointers and scored 29 points, Amare Stoudemire had 27 points and 12 rebounds, and the Phoenix Suns added to lowly Memphis road woes, beating the short-handed Grizzlies 105-87 Monday night. - Read More...
Suns pound Timberwolves to clinch Pacific
The Phoenix Suns regrouped from two blowout losses to clinch their third consecutive Pacific Division title by beating the Minnesota 108-90 Tuesday night. Raja Bell scored 16 of his 22 points in the decisive third quarter. Leandro Barbosa, inserted into the starting lineup to try to rev up the stuttering Suns' offense, added 20 points. Steve Nash had 18 points and 11 assists. Boris Diaw, replaced by Barbosa as a starter, had 11 points and nine assists.
Dubious feet: Kick nets Bell one-game suspension
Phoenix Suns guard Raja Bell was suspended one game without pay for kicking Andrea Bargnani of the Toronto Raptors, the league announced Friday. - Read More...
Phoenix's Raja Bell Suspended
Raja Bell of the Phoenix Suns has been suspended for one game without pay for kicking Andrea Bargnani of the Toronto Raptors, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations. - Read More...
Rising Sun draws comparisons to Ainge
USA TODAY's David DuPree, in one of his chapters examining how NBA stars play the game, explores Phoenix Suns guard Raja Bell. ...
Stoudemire puts up another double-double
Amare Stoudemire had 22 points and 12 rebounds to help the Phoenix Suns win their 10th consecutive game, 114-84 over the Charlotte Bobcats on Sunday. Stoudemire had his seventh double-double in eight games, Boris Diaw added 17 points, Leandro Barbosa had 15, and Shawn Marion and Raja Bell had 14 each. Steve Nash had 11 points and 10 assists. Sean May scored a career-high 26 points for the Bobcats, who suffered their third straight loss, all by 20 or more points.
Nash sparks Suns in fourth quarter
A blown 22-point lead wasn't enough to prevent the Phoenix Suns from winning their fifth in a row. Steve Nash broke out of a bad shooting night with eight points in a 19-5 fourth-quarter run and the Suns regrouped to beat the Houston Rockets 102-91 on Wednesday night. Amare Stoudemire had 22 points and 15 rebounds for the Suns, who dominated the boards 55-36. Raja Bell scored 20, Nash 17 and Leandro Barbosa 14 as Phoenix snapped the Rockets' four-game winning streak.
Suns snap Warriors' five-game win streak
Steve Nash hit the tiebreaking 3-pointer with 4.1 seconds left, and the Phoenix Suns rallied in a thrilling fourth quarter to snap the Golden State Warriors' five-game winning streak with a 113-110 victory Monday night. Raja Bell scored all of his 22 points after halftime, and Shawn Marion added 18 points and 11 rebounds as the Suns finally earned their first win in five road games this season.
Pain Free? Suns' Bell Finally Ready
In the EASY VALLEY TRIBUNE, Jerry Brown writes that "Suns fans' last basketball vision of Raja Bell was a picture of frustration -- a guy gutting through pain and dragging his torn left calf muscle up and down the floor in the NBA's Western Conference finals." But even though "the playoff run ended in early June, Bell's calf problems were far from over." Bell "aggravated the injury again in late June" and "was shut down for all of July." Bell "finally gave the calf a test run during an early August trip" and "is now running without pain." - Read More...
Suns' Bell Says He'll Play Tonight
"After making a surprising start Tuesday, Phoenix Suns guard Raja Bell said he plans to start tonight against the Mavericks in Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference Finals," reports DWAIN PRICE in THE STAR-TELEGRAM (Fort Worth, Tex.). "Bell went through light shooting drills at practice Wednesday and experienced some soreness in the left calf he injured in Game 1, but he is confident he can play tonight at American Airlines Center." - Read More...
Suns pull even in series with Game 4 rout
Raja Bell supplied the grit, and his Phoenix teammates took care of the offense. As a result, the Suns are even again with the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference finals. Leandro Barbosa scored 24 points on 10-for-13 shooting and the Suns, regrouping after a lifeless home loss in Game 3 two nights earlier, ran away from the Mavericks 106-86 on Tuesday night. Tied at 2-2, the series returns to Dallas for Game 5 on Thursday night.
Paola Boivin: Bell's Bravado Earns Him Start
In THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC, by Paola Boivin, Steve Nash describes Raja Bell as "another guy who opens his mouth once in a while and gives us some toughness and bravado. I just can't say enough about how much his personality means to our team." - Read More...
Surprise: Mavs Caught With Guard Down
"It once was that people came to the desert to get healthy because of the hot climate, lack of humidity and, of course, the Native American casinos. But trailing in this NBA Western Conference finals, it was time for the Suns to get a little healthier and to gamble a little bit. The Suns sounded the starting bell for Tuesday's Game 4 with Raja Bell in the lineup," writes Sam Smith of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. - Read More...
Bell's return helped make it a series again
Raja Bell surprised almost everyone when he returned to the Suns' starting lineup Tuesday night. Then he went out and helped Phoenix even the series with a 106-86 Game 4 win over the Mavs. Mike Kahn applauds Bell's effort and says we have a series again.