Suns @ Trail Blazers Game Thread

[AfroSuns]

Before enjoying some extended time at home, the Phoenix Suns are hoping to avoid their longest road losing streak in nearly six years.
The Suns visit the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday still seeking their first road win in December.
Following this game, Phoenix (17-8) plays four straight and 10 of 12 at US Airways Center, where it’s unbeaten this season. The Suns, who have played an NBA-low nine home games, could go into that stretch with some momentum by breaking out of their slump on the road.

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Phoenix has lost five in a row away from home since a Nov. 29 win in Toronto, equaling its longest road losing streak from all of last season. The Suns haven’t dropped six consecutive road games since Jan. 28-Feb. 20, 2004.
They’ve been held under 100 points four times during this road skid, something that has yet to happen in Phoenix this season.
“We’ve been playing well at home and after this Portland game we’ll be home for a while and it would be nice to get a good road win against a good team,” forward Grant Hill(notes) said. “We’ve got a good opportunity (Thursday) night.”
Hill and the Suns have faced some of the NBA’s best teams during its road losing streak, including Denver, Dallas, the Lakers and Cleveland.
While Portland (15-11) is struggling because of injuries, it’s always dangerous at home, going 9-4 at the Rose Garden.
The Blazers were 34-7 there last season, including wins in both of Phoenix’s visits. The Suns gave up more than 120 points in each.
Phoenix now looks to win back-to-back games for the first time this month after a 116-104 victory over San Antonio on Tuesday. Steve Nash(notes) had 25 points and 13 assists while Amare Stoudemire finished with 28 points, 14 rebounds and three steals. The Suns were 11 of 18 from 3-point range
“Definitely a big win for us. We came out with a lot of intensity from the start,” said Stoudemire, held to 15.8 points per game during the road losing streak.
A win Thursday could be just as important for the Trail Blazers, who recorded their third win in nine games with a 95-88 victory over Sacramento on Tuesday.
Portland, playing without Greg Oden(notes) (knee), Nicolas Batum(notes) (shoulder), Travis Outlaw(notes) (foot), Jeff Pendergraph(notes) (hip), Patrick Mills(notes) (right) and Rudy Fernandez(notes) (leg), gave up its fewest points in nine games to avoid a third straight loss.
LaMarcus Aldridge(notes) overcame a sore left ankle to score 25 points - 18 in the second half - while Brandon Roy(notes) also scored 25 to go with a season-high 10 assists.
“We needed a win,” said coach Nate McMillan, who returned after missing four games following surgery for a ruptured Achilles’ tendon. “For us, we can’t make a lot of mistakes because of the depth that we have and the personnel that we have. We have to play almost flawless ball. We’ve got to outhustle you, outwork you and keep believing in ourselves.”
Roy is averaging 25.7 points in the last seven games and 39.0 in his last two home games against the Suns

Men, i hate it when we are second game on TNT, come to think of it, i am not particularly thrilled to see a Suns game on TNT.

 

[dodie53]

go suns!

 

[zod]

Is Lou playing tonight?

 

[nooch]

Go Suns

 

[krazyasiankid]

Dragic starting at the 2? Thats good to see

 

[AfroSuns]

Dragic starting at the 2? Thats good to see

Not sure about that, it makes us awfully small

 

[dodie53]

no LB, no Jrich

tsk tsk

 

[krazyasiankid]

Not sure about that, it makes us awfully small

Well, its good to see that gentry had confidence in Dargic.. BUt I would've prefered Dudley starting against Roy

 

[dodie53]

is Lou playing?

 

[Hat]

Not a good start. 0 for 6

 

[krazyasiankid]

what a fking crap foul on Dragic.

 

[AfroSuns]

Well, its good to see that gentry had confidence in Dargic.. BUt I would've prefered Dudley starting against Roy

I agree and he is not doing to bad, especially since Portland went small too

 

[AfroSuns]

God bless Grant Hill!!

 

[Hat]

God bless Grant Hill!!

I was just going to say the same thing

 

[Rab]

Gary Bender with call tonight. LOL.

It's going to be a Suns tilted broadcast.

 

[krazyasiankid]

I wonder if its a good time to maybe bring in Alando Tucker.. Tucker has a pretty good inside game, which Potrland's small lineup will find hard to defend? Just a thought lol

 

[Hat]

Gary Bender with call tonight. LOL.

It's going to be a Suns tilted broadcast.

LOL I know. His bias is already coming out.

 

[AfroSuns]

Gary Bender with call tonight. LOL.

It's going to be a Suns tilted broadcast.

I thought that was funny too,

 

[Hat]

I wonder if its a good time to maybe bring in Alando Tucker.. Tucker has a pretty good inside game, which Potrland's small lineup will find hard to defend? Just a thought lol

Well we might see him. Dragic has 2 fouls already. I shudder to think how he will perform.

 

[Sunburn]

like what im seeing

 

[krazyasiankid]

Is it just me or did Aldridge's shot against Frye look like a travel?

 

[Sunburn]

after a slow start, we're playing well. I especially like how we're rebounding. Looks like their main threat will be aldridge tonight

 

[krazyasiankid]

Whoooo!!! Earl Clark!!

 

[Sunburn]

ugly finish

 

[AfroSuns]

That was a terrible finish to the 1stQ