Raptors at Suns
The streaky Toronto Raptors head into Wednesday’s contest against the Phoenix Suns looking to snap a five-game skid and keep their dim postseason hopes alive. The Raptors appeared ready to make a serious push after winning five straight in early February, but they’ve since fallen 8 1/2 games behind Milwaukee for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot. Phoenix abandoned its playoff dreams long ago, but the Suns have strung together their first three-game winning streak since mid-December.
Phoenix has won 14 of its last 16 games against the Raptors, but Toronto has won the last two contests. Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan, averaging 20.8 points over the last five games, scored a game-high 23 points against the Suns in their first meeting on Nov. 30. Suns leading scorer Goran Dragic took a hard fall in a 92-87 victory against Atlanta last Friday, but he’s expected to be available against Toronto. Dragic had 19 points against the Hawks, and he’s averaging 15.3 points and 10.7 assists over his last seven games.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, Sportsnet One (Toronto), Fox Sports Arizona (Phoenix)
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (23-38): After missing one game because of back spasms, forward Rudy Gay returned to score 26 points in a 125-118 loss to Golden State on Monday. Andrea Bargnani has been a disappointment this season, but he shined against the Warriors with 26 points and seven rebounds. Bargnani, who has missed 26 games this season with various ailments, is averaging 12.7 points while shooting 39.6 percent from the field. Forward Amir Johnson came off the bench against Golden State and finished with 23 points and 15 boards while making all 10 of his field goals.
ABOUT THE SUNS (21-39): Shooting guard Wesley Johnson has led Phoenix with an average of 12 points, 6.3 rebounds and one steal during the team’s current three-game winning streak. Johnson is 7-for-15 from beyond the arc over the last three games. Forward Marcus Morris has impressed since being acquired from Houston at the trade deadline and he’s averaging 13.5 points on 9-of-16 shooting over the last two games. He matched a career high with four 3-pointers and scored 16 points off the bench against Atlanta last Friday.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Phoenix has won seven of its last eight at home in the series against Toronto.
2. The Raptors are 1-11 in road games against Western Conference opponents.
3. Suns C Jermaine O’Neal, averaging 12.1 points and 9.8 rebounds over the past eight games, is expected to miss the next three contests while attending to his ailing daughter.