2008–09 Phoenix Suns season
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record
46 February 2 Sacramento W 129-81 Amar ' e Stoudemire ( 25 ) Shaquille O'Neal ( 9 ) Steve Nash ( 9 ) US Airways Center 18,422 26-20
47 February 4 @ Golden State L 112-124 Jason Richardson ( 24 ) Shaquille O'Neal ( 12 ) Steve Nash ( 9 ) Oracle Arena 19,596 26-21
48 February 6 Golden State W 115-105 Grant Hill ( 27 ) Amar ' e Stoudemire ( 15 ) Steve Nash ( 8 ) US Airways Center 18,422 27-21
49 February 8 @ Detroit W 107-97 Jason Richardson ( 21 ) Shaquille O'Neal ( 10 ) Steve Nash ( 21 ) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 28-21
50 February 9 @ Philadelphia L 91-108 Amar ' e Stoudemire ( 19 ) Shaquille O'Neal ( 10 ) Steve Nash ( 8 ) Wachovia Center 16,797 28-22
51 February 11 @ Cleveland L 92-109 Amar ' e Stoudemire ( 27 ) Amar ' e Stoudemire , Shaquille O'Neal , Matt Barnes ( 6 ) Leandro Barbosa ( 7 ) Quicken Loans Arena 20,562 28-23
52 February 17 L.A. Clippers W 140-100 Leandro Barbosa ( 24 ) Matt Barnes ( 9 ) Steve Nash ( 10 ) US Airways Center 18,422 29-23
53 February 18 @ L.A. Clippers W 142-119 Amar ' e Stoudemire ( 42 ) Amar ' e Stoudemire ( 11 ) Steve Nash ( 12 ) Staples Center 18,169 30-23
54 February 20 Oklahoma City W 140-118 Leandro Barbosa ( 41 ) Shaquille O'Neal ( 9 ) Matt Barnes ( 9 ) US Airways Center 18,422 31-23
55 February 22 Boston L 108-128 Jason Richardson ( 21 ) Shaquille O'Neal ( 6 ) Steve Nash ( 11 ) US Airways Center 18,422 31-24
56 February 24 Charlotte W 112-102 Steve Nash ( 22 ) Shaquille O'Neal ( 11 ) Steve Nash ( 5 ) US Airways Center 18,422 32-24
57 February 26 @ L.A. Lakers L 106-132 Leandro Barbosa ( 18 ) Jared Dudley ( 8 ) Leandro Barbosa ( 7 ) Staples Center 18,997 32-25
58 February 27 Toronto W 133-113 Shaquille O'Neal ( 45 ) Shaquille O'Neal ( 11 ) Grant Hill ( 12 ) US Airways Center 18,422 33-25
The 2008-09 Phoenix Suns season was the 41st season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The season was to be a promising one, filled with All-Star talent at several positions. It was believed over the offseason, the Suns would be able to better incorporate Shaquille O'Neal, who necessitated changes to both the offense and defense after being obtained in a trade one season ago. It was also the first season head coach Terry Porter had been able to use the summer to implement his defensive approach for a team which had in seasons past scored a large number of their points off fast breaks and early in the shot clock. Sensing a need for change, team management traded for scorer Jason Richardson in December, but this did not appear to immediately reinvigorate an offense that had recently led the league in points per game. However, after Phoenix went 28-23 to start the season, Suns assistant Alvin Gentry was named to replace Porter as head coach. Less than one week after the All-Star Game, Amar'e Stoudemire sustained a season-ending eye injury while the improvement of the team never fully came. The Suns finished 46-36, second in the Pacific division but out the playoffs for the first time since Steve Nash rejoined the Suns in the 2004-05 season.