Suns extend streak to 17 at Cleveland

CLEVELAND —  Though Phoenix just keeps on winning, the Suns insist they aren’t focused on their winning streak.

Steve Nash simply won’t allow it.

Nash scored 23 points and kept Phoenix’s high-energy offense purring with 15 assists as the Suns extended their winning streak to 17 games -- the NBA’s longest in seven years -- by beating the Cavaliers, 115-100, Sunday at Cleveland.

Phoenix’s 17-game streak is tied for the fifth-longest in NBA history, and with three more victories the Suns would match the second-best streak, a 20-gamer by the 1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks.

“The way they’re playing right now, they’re unbeatable,” LeBron James said.

Nash isn’t convinced.

“People don’t talk about the [NBA record] 33-game streak, they talk about who won the championship that year,” Nash said, noting the Lakers won the league title in ‘71-’72. “I don’t feel unbeatable. We’ve got a lot of improving to do.”

Shawn Marion scored 23 points, Amare Stoudemire had 22 and Leandro Barbosa had 19 for the Suns, who improved to 35-3 since opening the season 1-5. Phoenix, which had a 15-game win streak this season, also matched a franchise record with its ninth straight road win and is 20-1 versus Eastern Conference teams.

“No matter what you do defensively, he’s going to find a way to counter it,” James said of Nash. “No matter how you try to stop him, he’s got the weapons. That’s a heck of a team.”

James scored 30 points to lead the Cavaliers, who were within four points going into the fourth.