Nash obvious choice for league MVP.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

Byline: Perry A. Farrell

DETROIT _ Steve Nash must be the most valuable player in the NBA this season. The revved-up Phoenix Suns proved how important he is to the lineup when he missed three games with a thigh injury .

The Suns lost all three, including a 94-80 pounding at the Palace on Jan. 17 . They lost six straight games in all during that stretch, but since Jan. 23 they have won five straight, including four on the road. Phoenix has scored at least 120 points in four of the victories.

Nash, who grew up in Victoria, British Columbia, returned to his home country Sunday, notching 19 points and 12 assists in three quarters in a 123-105 victory at Toronto.

``He did a couple of things today that I was amazed at,'' coach Mike D'Antoni said after the game. ``I could sit here and talk about Steve all the time. We do a lot of good things, and Steve makes it all go.''

The Suns have shot at least 50 percent in each game during the run , and Nash has 44 assists in the past three . Nash, the only NBA player averaging in double figures in points and assists and one of three guards shooting 50 percent from the field , was effective from the outset of the season.

For the season, the 6-foot-3, 191-pound point guard is averaging 15.7 points, 11 assists and 3.2 rebounds . He's shooting 51.8 percent from the field and 90.4 from the free-throw line . He has 25 double-doubles and has led the Suns to a 36-10 record, tied with San Antonio for the best in the league entering Monday .