Phoenix, AZ (My Sportsbook) - Steve Nash had 22 points and five assists to lead the Phoenix Suns past the Charlotte Bobcats, 112-102, at US Airways Center.

Shaquille O'Neal and Jason Richardson scored 20 points apiece, with O'Neal adding 11 rebounds for the Suns, who have won four of their last five games overall.

Leandro Barbosa and Matt Barnes scored 17 and 14, respectively, in the win.

"I'm not really impressed with beating teams we're supposed to beat - we've got to beat the good teams that we have to stay consistent with," O'Neal said.

Boris Diaw, who was traded from the Suns to the Bobcats earlier this season, chipped in a season-high 27 points, 10 boards and six helpers for the Bobcats, who have dropped three in a row. Raymond Felton totaled 14 points and nine helpers in defeat and Gerald Wallace had 13 points.

Raja Bell, who also was traded from the Suns to the Bobcats earlier this season, had 23 points against his former team.

"I thought our effort was great," said Bobcats head coach Larry Brown. "There were some strange calls. Big plays late in the game and if your team is without stars sometimes, it's pretty difficult. That's frustrating. Every time we got back in the game, something bad happened and that's kind of disappointing. But I loved our effort."

The Suns were up 29-27 after the first quarter and led 59-55 at the break.

Nash nailed a three-pointer to open the second half and in doing so sparked a 22-8 Phoenix run. Consecutive free throws from Nash and Richardson closed it out for an 81-63 Suns advantage midway through the frame.

The Bobcats cut it to 94-84 heading into the final 12 minutes.

Baskets from Cartier Martin, Diaw, Vladimir Radmanovic and a free throw by Wallace brought the Bobcats within 96-91 with a bit under nine minutes left to play.

The teams traded buckets but Charlotte failed to get within five points the rest of the way.

Game Notes

Nash left late in the third quarter with an ailing right ankle but returned in the fourth to hit a three. He played only two more minutes after that...The Suns shot 52.6 percent from the field while the Bobcats hit 46.9 percent...Charlotte won the battle of the boards, 38-37...Phoenix improved to 17-11 as the host this season...The Bobcats, who are 6-20 as the guest this year, fell to 0-2 on a five-game slide. Charlotte has dropped nine of its last 12 outings. The Bobcats will finish their trek with visits to Sacramento, Golden State and the LA Clippers...The Bobcats have never won in the Valley of the Sun, compiling an 0-5 record.