THREE POINTS

RISING OUT WEST ...

Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash, the reigning two-time NBA most valuable player, is making perhaps a stronger run for the award.

In addition to leading the Suns to a 23-3 record after a 1-5 start, Nash, averaging 20.1 points and 11.1 assists, could become the first player to average more than 20 points and 10 assists for a season since the Lakers’ Magic Johnson and the Suns’ Kevin Johnson in 1989-90. And Nash had two games of at least 40 points and 10 assists in December, the first player to do that in a month since Michael Jordan in 1989.

... AND IN THE EAST

The Washington Wizards are 16-1 in games in which point guard Gilbert Arenas has scored 30 points or more, and he is averaging 36.4 in their victories.

The Van Nuys Grant High product is on such a roll that he refused to return fire after Kobe Bryant questioned his shot selection in a Dec. 17 game in which he scored 60 on the Lakers.

“It’s hard to go at somebody who’s the best player in the league,” Arenas said of Bryant. “That’s like Dominique [Wilkins] going at MJ. C’mon now, you’re not even in his league, so there’s no point. This guy has three rings.”

POP HAS A NEW BAG

Testing his players, San Antonio Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich played the late James Brown’s music in tribute at a practice.

“Guys like Bruce [Bowen] and Michael [Finley] and Robert [Horry] were humming, and everybody else was just trying to understand the words.”