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One thing that the Phoenix Suns have learned is that a healthy Steve Nash is a happy and productive Steve Nash.

He had rested his sore hip for the past three days and made his return to US Airways Monday night as the Suns hosted the San Antonio Spurs. As it would turn out, the rest did Nash a world of good as he scored 33 points, leading Phoenix to the 111-102 win over San Antonio.

Speaking of Nash, he took over immediately after the opening tip, making his first five shots and making repeated layups around the Spurs’ George Hill; he would finish the first quarter with 17 first-quarter points and would wrap up the period with a pair of three-point plays.

Despite the fact that Phoenix outshot San Antonio 57 percent to 42 percent in the first half , the Spurs were only down by ten at 57-47 at the intermission.

San Antonio never led before a 12-0 burst put them up 67-64 with 7:25 left in the third quarter; Manu Ginobili began and ended the Spurs’ run with 3-pointers. Jason Richardson would respond with a trey, making it 67-all; after two more ties, Nash scored on an inside move, then dished out assists on the next three baskets in a 10-0 Suns run that put them ahead 83-73. They would go into the final quarter up 85-75.

Amare Stoudemire scored the first four points of the fourth period to stretch the lead to 89-75 and it was 94-80 with 8:10 left to go after Louis Amundson made one of two free throws. Yet the Spurs hung around, led by Tim Duncan.

He would score seven in a 13-0 surge that nearly caught Phoenix with 4:26 remaining in the game; Stoudemire sank a pair of free throws, then after Keith Bogans and Tony Parker missed 3-pointers, Grant Hill made a pair of free throws to put the Suns ahead 98-93.

Parker’s 19-footer cut it to 98-95 with 3:38 left, then Richardson drained a 3-pointer to make it 103-95 with 1:23 left to go. After Parker’s free throws made it 103-97, Hill made a jumper with 51 ticks left on the game clock and Phoenix would put the game away by making six of eight free throws from that point.

Nash led all Suns scorers with 33 points, 3 rebounds, 10 assists, but also turned the ball over six times while Richardson added 27 (including 3 three-pointers) with 6 rebounds and a steal; Stoudemire chipped in 23 with 13 rebounds.

The Spurs were led by Ginobili with 27 points (including 3 three-pointers), 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals while Parker added 26 with 2 rebounds and 3 assists; Duncan chipped in 20 with 11 rebounds, 4 assists, a steal and 3 blocks.

Phoenix and San Antonio play again on Wednesday night in Game 2 of their best-of-seven series.