Suns at Magic
THE STORY: The Phoenix Suns continue their East cCast road swing with a stop in Orlando to take on the Magic on Wednesday. This is the only meeting between the inter-conference foes. Phoenix has dropped three consecutive games in Orlando, where they haven’t collected a victory since Nov. 10, 2007. Orlando has won four of its last five over Phoenix, including the last meeting between the clubs on Mar. 13, 2011.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN (Phoenix), SunSports (Orlando)
ABOUT THE SUNS (23-23): Phoenix is playing a stretch where it plays 12 of 15 contests on the road. The Suns are playing the second game of a back-to-back and have thrived on short rest, winning eight of its last 10 games on the second (or third) night of a back-to-back (to back). Phoenix has shown interest in signing power forward J.J. Hickson, who should clear waivers Wednesday. Hickson averaged 4.7 points and 5.1 rebounds in just over 18 minutes per game for the Sacramento Kings this season. The Golden State Warriors are also reportedly interested in the 23-year-old.
ABOUT THE MAGIC (29-18): The Magic have lost two straight, most recently an 85-59 defeat Monday at the hands of the Chicago Bulls. “We've got better players than that. I've got to take a look at what we're doing because it's really two games in a row now where we've been very, very bad offensively," Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy said Tuesday. The Magic only put up 81 points in a loss to the Miami Heat on Sunday. Center Dwight Howard has been the only offensive option in the past two games. Howard has 38 double-doubles this season and 452 during his career, the most in the NBA since he entered the league in 2004-05.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The Magic are just 6-6 vs. Western Conference foes this season, while the Suns are 9-3 since the All-Star break.
2. Orlando G Von Wafer is dealing with some lower back issues and is questionable. He's missed four games with the injury.
3. Suns point guard Steve Nash is shooting an NBA-best 60.8 percent from the field in the first quarter this season.