Suns at Nets
Saddled with a three-game losing streak that threatened to torpedo
their chances at a Western Conference playoff spot, the Phoenix Suns
have responded with back-to-back victories over Atlantic Division foes.
They'll look to continue that trend Monday night as they wrap up a
three-game East Coast road swing against the Brooklyn Nets. Phoenix
followed Friday's 87-80 triumph over the Boston Celtics with a 121-113
victory over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday afternoon.
Completing
the Atlantic trifecta could prove difficult, with the Suns playing the
tail end of a back-to-back and the Nets relatively well rested and
looking to rebound from a 101-94 defeat at the hands of the Washington
Wizards on Saturday. The Nets lacked the finishing kick they needed in
that one, getting outscored 29-15 in the fourth quarter to drop to 13-20 away from the
Barclays Center. Brooklyn escaped with a 100-98 overtime win in their
previous encounter Nov. 15 in Phoenix.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FSAZ (Phoenix), YES (Brooklyn)
ABOUT THE SUNS (38-28): Not
only has Phoenix surprised nearly everyone by contending for a
postseason berth in a season when most thought it would be in rebuilding
mode, it has done so despite losing guard Eric Bledsoe to a knee injury for
half the season. The difference-maker during that stretch: one-time
castoff Gerald Green, who has rejuvenated his career in Arizona -
averaging better than 20 points in 15 games since the All-Star break.
Green, who is back in a bench role with the return of Bledsoe, led the Suns with 28 points in Sunday's victory.
ABOUT THE NETS (33-31): Brooklyn's
reclamation project hasn't put up stats as impressive as Green's, but
has been impressive nonetheless. Former star point guard Shaun
Livingston overcame a gruesome knee injury seven years ago that many
believed would end his career, and is now a valuable part of the Nets'
starting lineup. Sharing ball-handling duties with Deron Williams,
Livingston averages just 7.8 points and 3.1 assists in 25 minutes but
has been responsible at both ends of the floor while adding 3.1 rebounds
and 1.2 steals.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Nets PF Kevin Garnett (back spasms) is questionable for Monday; he has missed the previous eight games.
2. Brooklyn has won four straight meetings.
3. Phoenix is 6-2 against the Atlantic Division.