Cavs resume trek in Phoenix

Cleveland enters tonight’s contest on a two-game losing streak. On Thursday, Kobe Bryant finished with 27 points and hit the winning jumper with 8.6 seconds remaining to lead the Los Angeles Lakers over the Cavaliers, 99-98, at the Staples Center.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas led all scorers with 29 points and LeBron James added 28 points and nine assists in the loss to the Lakers for the Cavaliers, who have lost three of their last four contests overall. James missed a potential game- winning shot at the buzzer.

Drew Gooden poured in 15 points and pulled down 11 boards for Cleveland, which has lost its last seven road games versus the Lakers.

The Cavaliers are 6-8 on the road this season. They will visit Zach Randolph and the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday at the Rose Garden. Cleveland is also scheduled to visit Denver, Golden State and Utah on the current swing.

Phoenix plays the finale of a brief two-game homestand. Shawn Marion led a balanced Phoenix attack with 21 points and 12 rebounds, as the Suns led wire- to-wire and defeated the Golden State Warriors, 112-99.

Reigning MVP Steve Nash contributed 20 points, 16 assists and seven rebounds in the won over Golden State for Phoenix, while Boris Diaw also had 20 points, as the Suns won for a fourth time in their last five games overall.

Kurt Thomas added 15 points and 16 rebounds, while Raja Bell scored 17 points. Eddie House netted 15 off the bench for Phoenix, which shot 51.8 percent from the field, including 13-of-25 from three-point range.

The Suns, who will hit the road after tonight’s contest for a pair of road games against Sacramento and the Clippers, are 14-6 at home. They have won four in a row as the host.

This is the first of two meetings between the clubs this season. The Cavaliers are scheduled to host the Suns on January 29th at Quicken Loans Arena.

Cleveland has won two straight over the Suns, who have won nine of 12 and 10 of the last 19 meetings in this series. The Cavaliers have lost six of its last 11 at Phoenix.