Suns try again for Pacific crown against Nuggets

03.17.2007

(Basketball News) - The Phoenix Suns will shoot for their sixth Pacific Division title in franchise history tonight when they battle the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center.

The Suns own a 16 1/2-game lead over the idle Los Angeles Lakers in the division standings and a win tonight would make Phoenix the first team this season to clinch a division title. Phoenix has captured the division title in each of the last two seasons.

The Suns had a six-game winning streak halted on Friday when they were topped by Detroit, 105-83, on Friday. Amare Stoudemire posted 24 points and a game- high 15 boards for the Suns. Phoenix has still won 11 of its past 13 games.

Steve Nash contributed 20 points and six assists, and Boris Diaw added 12 points for Phoenix, which is 24-8 on the road this season. Despite the setback, Phoenix is just 3 1/2 games behind Dallas in the Western Conference.

Phoenix will return home for a pair of games, beginning with a tilt against Minnesota on Tuesday.

Denver tries to collect its fourth win in a row this evening. Linas Kleiza scored a career-high 29 points on 10-of-13 from the field, as the Nuggets defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 113-86, on Thursday at the Pepsi Center.

Carmelo Anthony finished with 26 points and eight rebounds, while Allen Iverson ended with 14 points and 13 assists for Denver, which has won three straight and six of its last nine games overall. Steve Blake added 15 points and Marcus Camby contributed 11 points and 14 rebounds for the Nuggets.

The Nuggets, seventh overall in the West, are 18-17 at home this season. After tonight’s contest, they will embark on an important five-game road trip. Denver will visit New Jersey, Chicago, Toronto, Cleveland and Detroit on the upcoming swing.

This is the second of three meetings between the clubs this season. On February 5th, Amare Stoudemire scored 36 points and pulled down 13 rebounds to lead the Suns to a 113-108 victory over the Nuggets at the Pepsi Center.

The Suns have won two in a row and six of their last nine contests at Denver. Phoenix has captured three straight in the series.

Phoenix is scheduled to host the Nuggets on March 30th at US Airways Center.

DEN PHO

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