Steve Nash and the Suns routed the Blazers 107-88 Monday.
(Creative Commons)

Five minutes into Monday night's game, and fourteen points down, one would have thought the Phoenix Suns from Saturday afternoon's listless performance (a 96-87 loss in Portland) showed up again to provide a similar treat for their home fans. But the Suns woke from their slumber to put a 107-88 drubbing on the Blazers and force Portland to the brink of elimination.

In a first quarter that could easily have served as a microcosm for the series, the Suns rallied behind backup center Channing Frye's mini-surge (four points and three rebounds) to cut the deficit to one after 12 minutes of play despite allowing 28 points to the grind-it-out, blue-collar Blazers.

Phoenix grabbed an early 38-36 lead behind a bevy of free throw opportunities and second chance points in the second quarter and never looked back. This season the Suns, in the eyes of many, overachieved to a large extent and on Monday they showcased just how tough they are when everything is clicking -- especially when they're getting contributions from their unsung heroes: the bench players.

Frye followed a solid first quarter of play with nine points in the second quarter, and team leaders Amar'e Stoudemire and Steve Nash refused to let up, pitching in 10 points and six assists respectively. The Suns went into halftime with a 57-47 lead.

"I just felt like we had to think of this thing as long term and think of it as the stock market," Nash told reporters regarding the first half swing. "We're not day traders, we want to be very conservative and long term in our investment in transition. You've got to stick with it from start to finish."

If Frye provided the initial punch Phoenix needed from its bench with a playoff career-high 20 points, swingman Jared Dudley did his best sidekick impression in the second half.
Dudley, who had struggled throughout the series with his 3-point shot, looked mighty confident from behind the arc Monday, hitting five from downtown (three in the second half). He finished with a playoff career-high 19 points.

For the Blazers, team leader and All-Star forward Brandon Roy, now 10 days removed from arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, failed to have the emotional impact he provided during Saturday's Game 4 victory.
 
Roy, who received three quick fouls in the first half, was limited to five points on just 2-of-9 shooting.  The lone bright spot for Portland was the 38-point contribution from the backcourt combination of Jerryd Bayless and Andre Miller. However, the two only connected on just 12 of their 26 shots.

In a showdown with countless storylines, the difference came from a place the Suns have struggled to get to all season: the charity strip. Phoenix was toward the bottom of the NBA in free throw attempts this season, but they relished their opportunities in Game 5, going an astounding 29-of-32 from the line.

As the series shifts back to Rip City for Game 6 on Thursday night, the only question left to answer is can the Blazers, in spite of the litany of injuries they have endured all season, find a way to regain momentum in the series and put the pressure back on the Suns?

Based on the performances of Frye and Dudley in Game 5, that task seems a little bit harder -- even if you're looking through rose-colored glasses.

"When everyone is getting involved, it's hard to beat us," Dudley told ESPN.com.