Wizards at Suns
THE STORY: The Phoenix Suns started a six-game homestand in style by
beating the Los Angeles Lakers and see the upcoming stretch in which 12
of 14 games are at home as a time to make a move. However, Phoenix is
only 6-8 at home after beating the Lakers to snap a four-game losing
skid. Washington, which plays at Phoenix on Monday, is 3-12 on the road
with two of the victories coming on the current five-game road trip. The
Wizards have been off since losing to Utah on Friday.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, CS Washington (Wizards), FS Arizona (Suns)
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (7-24):
Second-year point guard John Wall has picked up his play recently and
has five double-digit assist performances in 12 games after reaching 10
assists only once over the first 19 contests. He is averaging 10.2
assists over the past five games and his scoring also has improved. Wall
had 24 points against Utah and is averaging 23.7 points over the last
three games. Wall’s hot streak has raised his season averages to 16.9
points and 7.6 assists.
ABOUT THE SUNS (13-19): Veteran
point guard Steve Nash is on an even better roll than Wall with 47
assists over the past three games. Nash has reached double digits in
assists in nine straight games and is averaging 13.4 over the stretch.
Nash leads the NBA in assists at 11.0 per game. Coach Alvin Gentry is
mindful of not having the 38-year-old Nash wear down and held him out of
a game against Denver last week when Phoenix was playing the second
game of a back-to-back-to-back.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Phoenix has won nine straight games
against the Wizards and Washington’s last win in the series occurred
during the 2006-07 campaign.
2. Suns guard Jared Dudley scored a season-high 25 points in Sunday’s victory over the Lakers.
3. Washington guard Jordan Crawford is averaging 18.0 points over the last three games.