Bucks at Suns
THE STORY: At this rate, the Milwaukee Bucks are surely sick of the West coast. The Bucks have dropped the first four games of their current road trip through cities outside the Eastern time zone. They’ll get one final chance to salvage the trip against the host Phoenix Suns on Sunday night. Milwaukee is 0-5 away from home on the season, its worst start on the road since dropping their first seven contests in 2004. Playing in Phoenix won’t do much to help Milwaukee’s confidence. The Suns have beaten the Bucks 23 straight times at home dating back to the 1986-87 campaign. It is the second-longest active streak in the NBA.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN North
ABOUT THE BUCKS (2-5): Injuries certainly aren’t helping the Bucks’ cause. Milwaukee had just 11 players dress in Friday’s 92-86 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. Regulars Andrew Bogut, Beno Udrih and Mike Dunleavy Jr. were all out. The Bucks continue to struggle on 3-pointers, missing 14 of 20 in the setback. They are shooting 28 percent from distance as a team. Drew Gooden has filled in admirably for Bogut, notching 60 points and 34 rebounds while starting the past three games.
ABOUT THE SUNS (3-4): Phoenix took advantage of a weary Portland squad in a 102-77 rout on Thursday. Nash made all seven of his shots, including a pair of 3-pointers, for 17 points with nine assists in three quarters of work. Still, the 15-year veteran is showing his age, averaging 12.3 ppg, his lowest mark in 12 seasons, and 8.7 assists, his worst since 2003-04. Sharpshooter Channing Frye has made only four of his last 20 3-pointers and is shooting 17.4 percent from long range on the season.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Bogut has not yet returned to the Bucks since taking a leave from the team to deal with a family matter last week. This will be the fourth game he’s missed.
2. The Suns have won nine of 10 meetings against the Bucks.