SALT LAKE CITY – It seemed like the most peculiar of places for the Suns’ formerly top-ranked shooting and November road wherewithal to resurface . . . until both disappeared once again.

A search committee for the Suns’ shooting and road grit figured to have a better chance of locating a cactus garden in the Wasatch Mountains than those missing elements at the Utah Jazz’s EnergySolutions Arena on Monday night. But Phoenix found fire in its offense for a 45-point second quarter, a career-high 32 points from Goran Dragic, a Jazz opponent record 17 3-pointers and a 17-point third-quarter lead, only to have it disappear quicker than a hiccup for a 124-115 loss.

Leading 96-79 with 2:38 to go in the third quarter, the Suns gave up 16 unanswered points and scored 19 points the rest of the game.

“Ever since we were 14-3, that’s been the story of the Phoenix Suns – big leads given away and lose,” said Suns forward Jared Dudley, whose team is 12-17 since Dec. 1.

Utah’s sixth consecutive home win was Phoenix’s fifth consecutive road loss, making the Suns 1-12 in their past 13 road games.

The Suns had made 34 of 60 shots when they led 96-79, but it became just another of the winter’s double-digit blown leads when they made seven of their final 24 shots, including three makes that came after they were down 10.

“We just couldn’t get into our offense,” said Steve Nash, whose fourth foul triggered the demise when he exited with the lead at 96-79. “They pushed us out. We had no penetration and we were just jacking up shots or turning it over.”

Despite the offense’s vanishing act, the Suns still were tied with Utah at 106 with 5:30 to go but then allowed the Jazz to score on their next seven trips by putting the Jazz on the line three times or seeing Utah hit jumpers.

Dragic, who was 6 of 7 on 3-pointers, and Channing Frye, who scored 21 points with five 3-pointers, were the Suns’ leading scorers. Nash added 15 points and 15 assists, but Utah got a big bench performance from rookie Wesley Matthews (career-high 21 points) as well as double-doubles from Carlos Boozer (21 points, 20 rebounds) and Deron Williams (18 points, 11 assists).

Utah shot 52.4 percent from the field to score its highest total of the season with a late boost from eight second-chance points in the fourth.

The Suns got off to an awful start, falling behind 17-5 by giving up a series of Jazz layups and losing Grant Hill to the pain of his bruised heel. But a switch to zone defense broke Utah’s rhythm and turned the Jazz into impatient shooters. Amar’e Stoudemire and Nash began reconnecting, and Dragic and Frye followed.

After scoring 18 in Saturday’s fourth quarter, Dragic remained aggressive to set a career high for the second consecutive game before the first half ended. Dragic’s 24-point first half was a major part of a 45-point second quarter, the Suns’ season high for any quarter.

“I felt like I could score every shot that I threw in,” Dragic said. “I’m not used to playing so many minutes. My legs were really heavy in the second half.”

Frye had 15 second-quarter points, finding open 3s and attacking the lane. Utah could not get a stop for the first half’s final 5:24, when the Suns scored 26 to lead 69-58.

Key player

The Suns got an unexpected career-high 32 points from Goran Dragic, making Utah rookie Wesley Matthews’ 21 points a huge offset.

Key moment

Leading 96-79, Utah closed the third quarter with a 12-0 run and scored the first four points of the fourth.

Key number

1: Shots the Suns took in the lane when they went scoreless for five minutes to blow a 17-point lead.

View from press row

Have a nice surgery Tuesday, Leandro Barbosa. The Suns appear to be in good hands for extra guard scoring. Between his fourth quarter Saturday and his first half Monday, Goran Dragic scored 42 points in 25 1/2 minutes of play. It was like he never cooled off.

He came out aggressive with a 3-point play and a fast-break take and ended the half with three 3-pointers in the final 2:41 to thrill his teammates. His 24 first-half points broke the career high he just set Saturday and overshadowed another great sign – 15 first-half points from Channing Frye.

Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner has not imposed a deadline for making his retirement decision, but the timing of it could be interesting, given his scheduled the next two weeks.

Warner is enjoying some down time with his family this week. Next week, he is scheduled to make appearances at the Super Bowl in Miami on Tuesday and Wednesday. Warner will be there on behalf of Disney and milk (apparently he couldn’t come to agreement with apple pie.)

In Miami, Warner will be making the rounds on radio row. On Thursday, Warner is scheduled to appear as a motivational speaker in Phoenix.

If Warner hasn’t announced a decision by then, he faces answering the retirement question a few hundred times.

Warner also is an alternate to the Pro Bowl, which is scheduled for Sunday, and could be asked to play, an opportunity he’s expected to reject.

Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb was named to replace the Saints Drew Brees, and Vikings quarterback Brett Favre is expected to pull out. That could mean an invitation for Warner or the Cowboys’ Tony Romo.

Warner suffered bruised ribs in the divisional game against the Saints and probably will politely reject a chance to play in the Pro Bowl.

Information in this article first appeared in Kent Somers’ blog.

Lauri Korpikoski found a way to clear his head of negative thoughts – scoring two goals in a game can do that for a player – and he’s hoping he can retain that touch on Tuesday when the Coyotes end a two-game road trip in Detroit.

“It was nice,” he said about his pair of goals scored in Saturday’s 4-2 loss at Washington. “It was a long time since I last had a couple of goals, so it was good. It creeps into your head when you’re not scoring, it’s a mental thing.”

Korpikoski has four goals this season. His other two came against Dallas in late November. In his two-goal effort against the Capitals, he was more of a presence around the net, and it paid off.

The Red Wings got off to a slow start this season, but the defending Western Conference champions have rallied and hold down the ninth spot. Still without left wing Tomas Holmstrom (broken foot), Detroit will be trying to rebound from a 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings.

“They’ve been playing rally well,” Korpikoski said. “We’ve got to be really prepared for a hard game . . . bring it right to them, go hard on the forecheck and hang onto the pucks in their end.”

This will be the last of four meetings between the teams this season, with the Red Wings holding a 2-1 edge, including a 4-1 victory on Jan. 2 at Jobing.com Arena. The Coyotes, fighting for their first playoff spot in eight years, are desperate for a split on the road. They are fifth in the West.

“You want to get points from the road,” Korpikoski said. “In the playoffs, tough teams, tough games on the road, so it will be a good test for us.”

The IRS
says Cardinals safety Antrel Rolle owes $2.2 million in back taxes, interest and penalties, according to an article in Forbes.

Here’s the link. http://www.forbes.com/2010/01/26/irs-charity-nfl-cardinals-personal-finance-antrel-rolle-tax-audit.html?boxes=Homepagechannels

Rolle’s dispute with the agency was revealed in a lawsuit the player filed in U.S. Tax Court, accusing the IRS of not acting in a “fair, professional and courteous manner.”

Rolle was audited and the IRS disallowed substantial charitable and business expenses. The dispute centers around 2005 and 2005, Rolle’s first seasons in the league.