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.

SALT LAKE CITY – As interest in trading for Amar’e Stoudemire perks up this winter, it feels like a familiar blanket for the Suns forward.

He said nothing has changed for what he wants. He would prefer to find a way to remain with the Suns. If he gets an extension, he believes he merits a maximum-level deal. If he gets traded, he wants to play for a title contender.

“This has happened the last couple years so I’m used to handling it,” Stoudemire said. “I was meant to be strong. Once I’m focused on something, I don’t lose focus on the goal and that’s to win basketball games. Nothing’s going to distract me.”

Between Republic and Yahoo! reports, Chicago, Cleveland, Golden State, Miami, Minnesota, New Jersey
and Philadelphia are at least exploring the idea of trading for Stoudemire before the Feb. 18 trade deadline.

Talks between Stoudemire’s agent, Happy Walters, and the Suns began Thursday, and Stoudemire said he expects there to be some contract-extension talks in the coming weeks.

Trade talks close to the deadline often involve a team’s highest-paid player, leaving Jason Richardson next up for debate after Stoudemire. Richardson is making $13.3 million this season and gets $14.4 million next season.

“After that first trade from Golden State, I realized it’s a business,” Richardson said. “After the trade from Charlotte (to Phoenix), I knew it was a business. You don’t really worry about it. You just focus on winning games. I’m a high-paid player. We’re struggling a bit. Unless you’re a guy like Steve (Nash) or LeBron (James), there’s always going to be rumors about being traded.”

Richardson lost his starting job recently for three games while the Suns tried to get Leandro Barbosa going. Now that Barbosa has been shut down for wrist surgery, Richardson is back as the starting shooting guard as he has been for most of his career.

“It just made me realize I’ve got to go out there and play hard,” Richardson said. “Energy. Rebounding. Hustling. I just can never take a play off and I think I had been. I’ve got to go back to attacking.”

Hey, I know you

Before the Suns’ visit to EnergySolutions Arena on Monday, center Jarron Collins already had made his first return to Utah in the preseason. He was playing for Portland and got many of the oddities of going to a different locker room and seeing people he knew well from spending his first eight NBA seasons with the Jazz out of the way.

Collins became a consultant for Suns assistants’ pregame preparation.

“The system hasn’t changed since Bill (Cartwright) and Dan (Majerle) played,” Collins said. “I know players’ tendencies from being around them so long. That’s the most interesting thing about them. Everyone knows what’s coming but can you stop the execution?”

Free throws

Nash and Jared Dudley attended the Sundance Film Festival’s world premiere of “Winning time: Reggie Miller vs. the New York Knicks” on Sunday in nearby Park City.

• Grant Hill left the game after four minutes due to the right heel he bruised on Saturday.

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