Phoenix Suns (38-24) at Los Angeles Clippers (25-35), 10:30 p.m.
Sports Network | March 3, 2010
(Sports Network) - The red-hot Phoenix Suns get back to work in Los Angeles Wednesday against their Pacific Division rival, the Clippers.
The Suns won for the sixth time in seven tries on Monday when Amare Stoudemire poured in 19 points and pulled down 10 rebounds, as Phoenix dominated the Denver Nuggets, 101-85, at US Airways Center.
Grant Hill added 19 points and eight rebounds for the Suns, who are now holding down the fifth spot in the jumbled Western Conference playoff picture, just 2 1/2 games behind Dallas for the second slot. Channing Frye tallied 16 points and five boards off the bench. Jason Richardson and Goran Dragic each chipped in 12 points for the victors.
"I think we came out and played great defensively," Stoudemire said. "The second unit did a great job out there with the zone defense and kind of threw Denver off guard there for awhile and we just kept the momentum going."
The Clippers, meanwhile, are coming off a 108-104 win over Utah on Monday. Eric Gordon scored 24 in that one as Los Angeles nearly blew a 17-point lead in the final quarter before holding off the Jazz, 108-104, at Staples Center.
All five starters finished in double figure scoring for the Clippers, who snapped a two-game skid, but won their fourth in a row at home. They also ended a six-game slide against the Jazz.
Baron Davis contributed 19 points and 12 assists, but also accounted for nine of his team's 19 turnovers, which led to 26 Utah points. Drew Gooden had 19 points and 11 boards, while Chris Kaman ended with 18 and 14 rebounds. Rasual Butler scored 13 for the Clippers, who went 26-of-29 from the foul line.
"I was satisfied with the win. We competed the whole game, but I didn't like our turnovers at the end," Clippers coach Kim Hughes said. "I can't remember the last time we outrebounded Utah. Our bigs were physical with theirs."
Phoenix has won seven straight over the Clips and will be shooting to sweep the season series for the second consecutive year tonight. LA's last win over the Suns came at Staples Center on Jan. 15, 2008.
