Suns try to bounce back in New Orleans
Published: February 01, 2012 @ 10:03am
Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash (13) drives in the lane past New Orleans Hornets small forward Trevor Ariza (1) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Friday, Dec. 30, 2011. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
The two struggling teams meet Wednesday night in New Orleans. Phoenix is coming off a disappointing loss to Dallas Monday, which dropped their record to 7-13.
Losing has been all too common for the Hornets this season. New Orleans has lost two straight, 11 out of their last 12 and just completed a woeful 2-16 January, which was the worst monthly record in their 24-year team history. The Hornets' dismal 4-17 mark is the worst in the Western Conference.
One of the Hornets' four wins came at the expense of the Suns. New Orleans won 85-84 at U.S. Airways Center on opening night, thanks to an Eric Gordon jump shot with 4.5 seconds to go. Four nights later in the Big Easy, the Suns returned the favor, beating the Hornets 93-78 behind 18 points from Hakim Warrick.
Suns point guard Steve Nash, who is leading the league in assists per game with 9.9, is expected to suit up against the Hornets after sitting out the Mavs game with a thigh injury that he sustained at the end of the Suns' win against the Grizzlies last Saturday.
Nash needs just seven assists to surpass Kevin Johnson as the franchise's all-time leader in that category.
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