GAME: Portland Trail Blazers (5-11) at Phoenix Suns (10-5).
TIME: Tuesday, 9 p.m. EST.
The Phoenix Suns look to extend their winning streak to seven games as they host the struggling Portland Trail Blazers.
Phoenix had four winning streaks of six games or longer last season en route to a league-best 62-20 record. But with the offseason departures of Joe Johnson and Quentin Richardson, and a knee injury that should keep Amare Stoudemire out until February, owning the NBA’s longest active win streak was hardly expected from the Suns.
Neither was their improved defense.
Phoenix, which gave up a league-high 103.3 points per game last season, has not allowed 100 points in any of its last eight games. The Suns’ opponents are averaging 90.5 points during that span. The last time they held nine consecutive opponents under 100 in a single season was the first nine games of the 2002-03 season.
“I think that’s going to get us through this year, if we continue to focus on our defense,” Suns center Kurt Thomas said. “We’re going to score on other teams, so as long as we go out there and continue to play defense each and every night … it will be key for us.”
The Blazers have yet to score 100 points in a game this season and are averaging 85.9, among the worst in the league. They’ve dropped four in a row and eight of 10.
Phoenix won its sixth straight on Sunday night, with James Jones scoring a season-high 20 points and Shawn Marion also getting 20 in a 112-94 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.
The Suns set the tone early, outscoring the Hawks 25-10 in the first quarter, the fewest points they’ve allowed in any period this season. The lead grew to as many as 37 points in the opening minute of the fourth quarter.
“I thought we played real well the first three quarters, especially defensively,” Suns coach Mike D’Antoni said. “We’re getting good games from different guys and the guys showed a good effort, and kept their concentration throughout the game. All in all, it was a pretty good game.”
Boris Diaw finished with 14 points and nine assists. Diaw has scored in double figures in eight consecutive games after scoring in double figures eight times all of last season with Atlanta.
Phoenix leads the league in scoring, averaging 103.3 points. The Suns also have made more than twice as many 3-pointers as the Blazers, 123-52.
Portland has been outscored by an average of 14.0 points in its last four games, and is coming off a 98-93 loss to the Utah Jazz on Sunday.
The Blazers were without starting forward Darius Miles against the Jazz because of cartilage damage in his right knee.
Miles, averaging 18.2 points and 5.6 rebounds, was placed on the inactive list and had an MRI exam on Sunday which indicated he might need to have surgery.
“Basically, you’re just rotating guys in. You’re losing 18 points there,” Blazers coach Nate McMillan said. “When key guys go down, it puts a lot of pressure on that team.”
Portland got 19 points from both Ruben Patterson and Sebastian Telfair.
Patterson had not played since cursing at McMillan during a game against New York on Nov. 20. He had spent the last seven games on the inactive list after complaining about his minutes.
“Everything’s behind me. I’m just here to play,” Patterson said. “I’m going to keep my mouth shut.”
The Suns have won six straight at home and are 8-2 against the Blazers in the last 10 meetings at America West Arena.
STANDINGS (through Dec. 4): Trail Blazers - 5th place, 4 1/2 GB, Northwest Division. Suns - 3rd place, 1/2 GB, Pacific Division.
PROBABLE STARTERS: Trail Blazers - F Sergei Monia, F Zach Randolph, C Joel Przybilla, G Martell Webster, G Telfair. Suns - F Diaw, F Marion, C Thomas, G Raja Bell, G Steve Nash.
TEAM LEADERS: Trail Blazers - Miles and Randolph, 18.2 ppg; Randolph, 9.2 rpg; Telfair, 4.5 apg. Suns - Marion, 19.3 ppg and 12.1 rpg; Nash, 10.4 apg.
2004-05 SEASON SERIES: Suns, 3-1.
LAST MEETING: March 5; Suns, 129-116. At Phoenix, Marion had 26 points and nine rebounds, Stoudemire scored 20, Nash had nine points and eight assists, and all of them were able to sit out the fourth quarter.
