By Jerry Brown

WASHINGTON -- Tonight against the Timberwolves, Grant Hill will play his 21st straight game for the Suns.

That might not sound like anything extraordinary. But for Hill, it will represent the longest regular-season run of health since he was a Detroit Piston eight years and a halfdozen surgeries ago.

Not only is Hill playing, but he’s playing at a level few thought they would see again. Over the past 13 games, Hill was averaging 18 points and shooting 57 percent from the floor. His 3-pointers are starting to drop (7-for-13 over the past five games) and his athleticism belies his 35-year-old birth certificate — injury history or not.

To watch Hill flash from the deep corner to the hoop on one dribble or race ahead of the pack on the fast break is becoming more and more common.

“There have been a few moments here lately when I said, ‘Wow, that’s a move I haven’t made since Detroit.’ I can’t tell you how good that feels,” Hill said after collecting 18 points, eight assists and five rebounds in front of his dad, former NFL star Calvin Hill, and about a dozen other friends and family Friday night.

Hill grew up in nearby Reston and starred at South Lake High School before moving on to Duke and the NBA.

“I wanted to keep trying, keep coming back because I really felt like this was still there. And to play with players who are so talented, unselfish and enjoy playing together, with a guy like Steve (Nash) orchestrating … even if two or three guys are off on a given night, we have the firepower to keep going. I don’t know how teams go about preparing for that.”

Coach Mike D’Antoni feels having Hill around makes it that much harder for foes.

“He was an All-Star before he got hurt, I guess he shouldn’t be surprised that he’s playing at an All-Star level now that he’s healthy,” D’Antoni said. “He’s not 35, you know. He hasn’t played for years, he’s taken care of his body, he’s the first one in to work and he’s dedicated to his craft. He’s getting more comfortable showing us what he can do, and I think there is even more to come.”