Cavs try to block rising Suns

Phoenix made it 16 straight wins and improved to 3-0 on its five-game road trip with Friday’s 98-90 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks at the Bradley Center. Raja Bell poured in 27 points to lead the way for the Suns, while Amare Stoudemire scored 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds.

Steve Nash finished with 18 points and 16 assists for the Pacific Division- leading Suns, who have now won 34-of-37 since starting the season by losing five of six. Phoenix has the best mark in the NBA (35-8) and will also visit Minnesota on Monday. It is 16-5 as the visitor this season.

Cleveland, meanwhile, ended a two-game losing streak with Friday’s 105-97 win over the Philadelphia 76ers in the back end of a home-and-home set at the Wachovia Center. The Cavs were without star LeBron James, who missed the game with a sore bog toe. He is probable for Sunday’s game versus Phoenix.

Against the Sixers Drew Gooden poured in 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, as Cleveland battled back from a 17-point halftime deficit. Donyell Marshall scored 17 points and pulled down nine boards off the bench while Larry Hughes had 16 points for the Cavaliers, who won for just the second time in their last seven games.

The Cavaliers, who are tied with Detroit and Chicago atop the Central standings, own a 15-5 record at Quicken Loans Arena this season.

Phoenix defeated the Cavs, 109-90, on January 11 this season at US Airways Center and has won three of four and seven of the last nine meetings.

The Suns have lost two straight after winning their last two at Cleveland.