Suns go for third straight win

This is the third contest between the two teams this season. The Blazers defeated Phoenix, 101-94, on December 18, 2003 at the Rose Garden, while the Suns knocked off Portland, 105-96, just three days ago at America West Arena.

Joe Johnson shot 12-of-16 from the field and scored a season-high 26 points to lead the Suns to a 104-93 win over the Golden State Warriors on Friday in front of their home crowd.

Shawn Marion scored 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting and pulled down nine rebounds, while Amare Stoudemire poured in 21 in the win. Phoenix had three players score 20-plus points in a game for the second night in a row.

Stoudemire scored 22, Marion added 21 and Johnson chipped in 20 in Phoenix’s win over Portland on Friday night

"It’s a good feeling to get back-to-back wins and now we need to move forward," Marion said. "We came out tonight, and stopped some of their shots, and got some of ours to fall."

The Suns are 10-10 at home this season.

The Blazers come into tonight’s game having lost four straight games. On Saturday, Portland fell to the Dallas Mavericks, 108-104, in front of its home crowd.

Rasheed Wallace and Ruben Patterson each scored 24 points, as Portland fell for the eighth time in its last nine tries. In addition to his season-high point total, Patterson also grabbed 10 rebounds to record a double-double.

"It’s unfortunate. We’ve got to get over this hill. We stick together and we can do it," Blazers guard Derek Anderson explained of the team’s slump. "Its just a matter of fighting through these tough times."

Zach Randolph joined Patterson in the double-double category with 18 points and 10 boards. Wesley Person and Damon Stoudamire scored 12 and 11 points in the loss.

Portland, which has lost two straight and five of its last six on the road, is a brutal 2-15 as the visitor this season.

The Suns have won four of their last six games with the Blazers, who have lost two straight and five of their last six at Phoenix.