Phoenix Suns Team Report - February 14

(Basketball News) - The Pacific Division-leading Phoenix Suns will try to be the first team in the league to 41 wins on Monday, when they host the Utah Jazz at America West Arena. Phoenix has won nine of its last 11 and 16 of its past 24 contests, including a 106-102 overtime victory over the Golden State Warriors at The Arena in Oakland on Sunday. Joe Johnson scored 23 and three other Phoenix players recorded 20-plus point efforts in the victory over Golden State.

Shawn Marion finished with 21 points and 16 rebounds and Quentin Richardson had 21 points and seven boards in Sunday’s win for the Suns, who have won four of five. Steve Nash tallied 20 points and 12 assists for Phoenix, which needed overtime after blowing a double-digit fourth quarter lead.

The Suns shot 46 percent from the field in the win, while limiting the Warriors to 36.4 percent shooting. Phoenix hit 8-of-16 (.500) from three-point range and 18-of-28 (.643) from the free throw line.

Flu-ridden Amare Stoudemire was limited to nine points, putting an en to his string of 11 consecutive 20-point games. The last Phoenix player to score at least 20 points in 12 or more consecutive games was Charles Barkley, who did it in 14 straight in 1992-93.

Phoenix has actually lost three of its last five home tilts to fall to 18-5 in its friendly confines this season. The Suns have their next three and eight of their next 10 games at America West Arena.

Nash has recorded five straight double-doubles and is averaging 23.8 points and 13.6 assists in that span. The 31-year-old Nash has averaged 16.3 points and a league-best 11.3 assists this season.

Phoenix has won two of three meetings with the Jazz this season, but Utah won the most recent meeting, 115-108, on January 12th at the Delta Center. The Jazz have actually won nine of the last 13 meetings, including four of their last six trips to Phoenix

The Suns are scheduled to host the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday in their final game before the All-Star break. On November 16th, Phoenix defeated the Mavericks, 107-101, at American Airlines Center. The teams are scheduled to meet on February 17th at America West Arena in the final meeting between the clubs in the 2004-05 campaign.

Marion, Nash and Stoudemire will represent the Suns in Sunday’s All-Star Game at the Pepsi Center.