Nets at Suns 6:00 FSN AZ HD

[FArting]

For the past 13 years, the New Jersey Nets have made their annual trip to Phoenix -- and have left with a loss each time.
The Western Conference-leading Suns look to extend their run at home against the Nets when they meet Sunday night at US Airways Center in the lone NBA game on the schedule.Phoenix (28-12) has not lost to New Jersey at home since a 124-93 defeat on March 13, 1993, winning each matchup after that by an average of 11.8 points per game. This season, the Suns are 14-4 at home, and has won their last four there by 14.3 points.This will be the first meeting between the Suns and Nets since Dec. 7, 2006, when Steve Nash had a career-high 42 points with 13 assists in a 161-157 double-overtime win at New Jersey. Phoenix swept the season series from the Nets in 2006-07, and has won six of the last seven meetings overall.
Nash had 26 points and 13 assists in a 99-93 home win over the Nets on Nov. 24, 2006, and is averaging 27.7 points and 9.3 assists in three home games against New Jersey since rejoining the Suns before the 2004-05 season.Nash had a near-flawless performance in Friday's 115-95 win over Minnesota. The two-time league MVP, was 6-for-6 from the field and 4-for-4 from the free throw line for 17 points with 13 assists and just one turnover.
"He was pretty efficient tonight, I would think," Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni said.
Nash is averaging 19.8 points and 13.3 assists in his last four games after missing the Suns' 108-86 loss to Utah on Jan. 10 due to stomach flu.Phoenix won for the ninth time in 12 games on Friday, but just its third in the last five. The Suns have a one-half game lead over Dallas and New Orleans in the West, and a one-game lead over the second-place Los Angeles Lakers in the Pacific Division."It's the NBA and it's a long season, so it's just a matter of us going out there and playing ball and going out there and doing what we have to do to get the win," said Shawn Marion, who had 18 points and six rebounds on Friday.Marion had 49 points and 19 boards in the two games against the Nets last season. He's averaging 17.3 points and 9.9 rebounds in seven home games against them.Amare Stoudemire is averaging 25.8 points and 10.0 rebounds in four career home games against New Jersey, and had 48 points and 21 rebounds against the Nets last season. The two-time All-Star had 23 points and 11 rebounds on Friday.
Marion had 49 points and 19 boards in the two games against the Nets last season. He's averaging 17.3 points and 9.9 rebounds in seven home games against them.
Amare Stoudemire is averaging 25.8 points and 10.0 rebounds in four career home games against New Jersey, and had 48 points and 21 rebounds against the Nets last season. The two-time All-Star had 23 points and 11 rebounds on Friday.
New Jersey (18-21) opened its six-game road trip on Saturday with a 120-107 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. The Nets, who have lost four in a row, and five of six following a season-high five-game winning streak, were outscored 19-6 in overtime.
"They executed very well and played really well on defense," said Josh Boone, who had 17 points and 16 rebounds. "That's what it came down to once we got to overtime. They were able to play defense and get the win."
Richard Jefferson scored 21 points on 5-of-14 shooting on Saturday, and is averaging 17.3 points on 37.0 percent shooting in his last four games after averaging 25.5 points on 49.3 percent shooting in his previous four.Jefferson is averaging just 13.4 points in five career games in Phoenix.Against the Clippers, Jason Kidd fell short of his 11th triple-double of the season, finishing with 10 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds.Since being traded to New Jersey by the Suns in 2001, Kidd is averaging 16.4 points, 5.6 assists and 8.8 rebounds in five games at Phoenix. He's never recorded a triple-double on the road against the Suns after joining the Nets.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=280120021

Nets 99
Suns 116

Stat

 

[jbeecham]

I'll be there tonight and sitting behind the Suns bench.

 

[S_Nash]

Just a quick OT question.

How easy is it to obtain courtside seats for an ordinary game in Phoenix and how much do they cost?

Also, I'm planning to come to Phoenix in Feb next year to catch the all-star game. How much would tickets to that cost and would I have to be quick to snatch a couple?

 

[dodie53]

I'll be there tonight and sitting behind the Suns bench.

very nice.

 

[dodie53]

Go Suns!

 

[Gee!]

Question.. Why does every one of these Suns threads say "HD" in the title? There is a thread around here somewhere announcing that all games will be in HD this year.. Why does it have to be said in each thread? Siorry, it just irks me for some reason to have to read that in each title..

 

[dodie53]

just to remind i guess

 

[sunsfn]

I am glad he put the time in there, I forgot about that! Thanks!

 

[az1965]

Streams?

 

[jandaman]

its on NBATV..

Diaw has been very very good..

and a couple of Amare highlights so far... he has more blocks than rebounds as I typed this...

 

[jandaman]

9 rebounds now...

good outing for everyone, but Nets looked wrecked... no energy wat so ever.. still Suns won like they should have.. so no worries there.

 

[dodie53]

it's over already?

 

[dodie53]

nice to see Marks playing

 

[dodie53]

nice win.

 

[Griffin]

Here's an unusual statistic: the Suns end up with 24 more shot attempts than the Nets. They win the game shooting under 50% from the field thanks to 48-38 edge on the boards, including a 17-5 advantage on the offensive glass.

Great job rebounding the ball for a change. Will we see that again anytime soon?

 

[Mainstreet]

It sounds like Strawberry is starting to improve with playing time, 6 pts., 3 asst. and no turnovers. I couldn't watch the game. Anyone have an opinion?

 

[dodie53]

i think Amare, Diaw, and Marion all had double digits in rebounding.

 

[dodie53]

It sounds like Strawberry is starting to improve with playing time, 6 pts., 3 asst. and no turnovers. I couldn't watch the game. Anyone have an opinion?

he's active in the defensive end.

he even contested a three point shot attempt in the dying seconds.

 

[Ninjafish]

It sounds like Strawberry is starting to improve with playing time, 6 pts., 3 asst. and no turnovers. I couldn't watch the game. Anyone have an opinion?

When Nash went out, the team did not look bad at all tonight. I think a big part of that had to do with Strawberry. He should stay in the rotation when Hill comes back.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Amare Stoudemire is really good. Really good.

 

[Mainstreet]

I definitely think DJ has a lot of upside if D'Antoni continues to give him regular playing time. IMO, what you see is what you get with Banks. He can occasionally get hot from the outside but I like consistency in a player. I have high hopes for DJ's continued development.

 

[dodie53]

Amare Stoudemire is really good. Really good.

i liked his left handed dunk off the dribble

 

[cly2tw]

Nets defense is really bad. The win was too easy. But Diaw played aggressive, it's 3 good games out of 4 starts. DJ's defense is really good and he never forced anything on offense. Very encouraging. LB is trying to pass and fed Amare with a great one on a break. But the lob he tried for Marion in the 1st quarter tells us he needs to work on refining the touch of passing.

We seem to be doing quite well with zone defense for stretches. Amare in the middle altered a lot of layups and we avoided fouls this way. But again, it probably is due to the weak Nets team.

 

[mjb21aztd]

Glad the suns won tonight great to hear diaw and strawberry both had pretty good games

 

[bigfoot]

OMG Boris, keep it up!
I hope Hill's return does not disrupt whatever it is that he has going right now. Do you guys think Grant will be better coming from the bench in the next few games so that Boris can complete this little metamorphosis?
I am really hoping he has turned the corner for his sake and the Suns'.