Magic look to make Suns disappear

This is the second and final meeting of the season between the squads. On December 11th, Amare Stoudemire scored 30 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Suns to a 103-89 road victory over Orlando.

Orlando has lost four straight after winning its last two at Phoenix. The Pacific Division-leading Suns have won two straight and four of the last five contests in this series.

Phoenix plays the finale of a five-game homestand. Reigning MVP Steve Nash dished out a season-high 21 assists, helping Phoenix to its eighth straight win, a 109-90 rout of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Nash shot just 2-of-7 from the floor for four points in 30 minutes of action.

All-Star forward Shawn Marion finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds in the win for the Suns, while Stoudemire tallied 17 points and 13 rebounds. Raja Bell scored 18 and Leandro Barbosa netted 16 off the bench in the victory.

The Suns are an impressive 16-3 at home this season. They have won six in a row at US Airways Center. Phoenix will visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday and the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.

Orlando plays the third of a four-game road trip and had its five-game winning streak come to an end with Friday’s 109-106 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center.

Dwight Howard had 25 points and 10 boards for the Southeast Division-leading Magic, who are 8-9 on the road this season. Grant Hill had 20 points and Hedo Turkoglu added 18 in the loss.

The Magic are 1-1 on the trip so far and will close out the trek on Tuesday against the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets.