--G Guard Steve Nash missed his second game of the season. Two days after taking a knee to the thigh from rookie Kevin Love in Minnesota, Nash wasn't able to get it loose enough during warm-ups and was a late scratch for Friday's game. The move was explained as precautionary and Nash is expected to return for Sunday's home game against New Jersey. Without Nash, an offense that was already struggling with turnovers committed six in the first eight possessions of the game and finished with 19 -- leading directly to 21 Miami points. The Suns are now 5-14 in the 19 games Nash has missed over the last five seasons.

--G Sean Singletary made his first NBA start in place of the injured Steve Nash. Singletary played only 11 minutes after the Suns committed six turnovers on their first eight possessions of the game.

--C Shaquille O'Neal didn't have the game he was looking for against his old team. He collected 12 points and nine rebounds in 29 minutes, but took only eight shots and didn't get the ball a lot against a small Miami frontline. The Suns made attempts, but they often resulted in one of their 19 turnovers.

--F Grant Hill was one of Phoenix's better players Friday, contributing six points, eight rebounds and four assists and three blocked shots in 25 minutes. On the down side, he missed six of nine shots and committed four of Phoenix's 19 turnovers.

MEDICAL WATCH:

--G Alando Tucker (left knee) underwent successful arthroscopic surgery last week, and is due back within a week.

--G Steve Nash (thigh contusion) missed Friday's game against Miami but is expected back Sunday against New Jersey.