SUNS 112, ROCKETS 105: Marcin Gortat collected 20 points and 15 rebounds and Steve Nash had a big second half as visiting Phoenix pulled closer to the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference. Houston has dropped back-to-back games to fall onto the playoff bubble.

Nash finished with 18 points and 10 assists and Jared Dudley scored 19 for the Suns (31-28), who moved within one game of the Rockets (32-27) for the No. 8 spot.

Nash went scoreless in the first half but quickly went about making up for it with 10 points in the third quarter as Phoenix took control. After trailing by four at the break, the Suns outscored Houston 30-14 in the third.

Gortat added eight points in the frame, while Dudley and Michael Redd each hit key 3-pointers.

Phoenix led by as much as 97-81 with 5:46 left before the Rockets made one last push. Former Suns guard Goran Dragic scored five points during a 17-6 burst and pulled Houston within 103-98 with 2:19 to play.

But Nash hit four free throws in the final 28 seconds to seal the win.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Rockets C Marcus Camby pulled down all 18 of his rebounds and scored 10 of his 14 points in the first half. … Each team went to the free throw line 33 times, with Houston converting 29 and the Suns 28. … Phoenix will play six of its final seven games against Western Conference teams fighting for playoff positioning.