Steve Nash was visibly having problems with his shoulder when he was pulled with 1:05 left before halftime and asked to play through it.

"It's not worth it," D'Antoni told him.

Suns athletic trainer Aaron Nelson said the inflammation will have to go down in Nash's shoulder before he can strengthen it again. He said the swelling leads to frequent spasms in Nash's shoulder, neck and trapezius.

Nash actually hurts more without the ball when he is trying to change direction and can't get momentum. He even hurts when he sits out.

"My shoulder is frozen," Nash said. "I can't move like I want to without the ball. That's when the pain gets worse."