Phoenix Suns (17-8) at Portland Trail Blazers (15-11), 10:30 p.m.
Sports Network | December 17, 2009
(Sports Network) - Western Conference rivals meet in the Pacific Northwest Thursday, when the banged-up Portland Trail Blazers play host to the Phoenix Suns at the Rose Garden.
The Blazers have managed to keep their head above water despite losing oft- injured center Greg Oden for the season with a left patella fracture. Nate McMillan's team also continues to toil without Rudy Fernandez (nerve damage- leg), Nicolas Batum (shoulder), Travis Outlaw (foot), Jeff Pendergraph (left hip) and Patrick Mills (right foot).
Despite the injuries the Blazers halted a two-game skid at home on Tuesday, when LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy each scored 25 points as Portland used a late surge to beat the Sacramento Kings, 95-88.
Roy had 10 assists, while Jerryd Bayless scored 10 of his 14 points in the final quarter for the Trail Blazers. Joel Przybilla had 10 rebounds, while Aldridge contributed nine boards.
"I was just trying to help. I thought we were flat a little bit," said Bayless. "It was time for some energy and I just tried to take the ball to the hoop tonight."
The Suns, meanwhile, continue to be two different teams. Phoenix remained the NBA's only perfect team at home with a 116-104 win over San Antonio on Tuesday.
Amare Stoudemire scored 28 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, while Steve Nash added 25 points with 13 assists in that one, as the Suns drained 11 three- pointers in the win.
"Definitely a big win for us, we came out with a lot of intensity from the start. We gave 100 percent effort out there," said Stoudemire.
Grant Hill contributed 17 points, Channing Frye donated 15 and Goran Dragic added a career-high 18 points, including 4-of-5 from beyond the arc, for the Suns, who improved to 9-0 at US Airways Center.
Phoenix has been far more pedestrian on the road, however. The Suns sport just an 8-8 record away from the desert and have dropped five straight as the guest coming into tonight's contest.
These two teams split a four-game season series last year with each club holding serve on their respective home courts. Overall, the Blazers snapped an ugly 11-game skid against Phoenix with a win at the Rose Garden on December 18 of last year.
