Suns look to head into All-Star break with a win over Warriors
Feb 22, 2012, 4:18 PM | Updated: 7:36 pm
The Phoenix Suns look to match their season-best three-
game winning streak Wednesday as they host the Golden
State Warriors (12-17) in the final game before the All-
Star break.
Phoenix (14-19) has won its past two games partly in
thanks to the All-Star-like numbers of center Marcin
Gortat, who averaged 20.5 points and 11 rebounds in games
against the Lakers and Wizards. Gortat’s season averages
place him in an elite class of players that includes Los
Angeles’ Andrew Bynum and Orlando’s Dwight Howard, who are
all averaging at least 15 points, 10 rebounds and 1.5
blocks per game. Those numbers resulted in Bynum and
Howard becoming starting centers in the All-Star game,
whereas Gortat was snubbed, but the big man isn’t the only
Sun who is playing well of late.
Lately, different players are stepping up when needed to
propel the Suns to a win. Channing Frye played well
against Washington, posting a double-double with 19 points
and 11 rebounds while shooting 4-7 from three-point range.
The day before, Jared Dudley posted a season-high 25
points in the win over the Lakers. Michael Redd has also
been playing well off the bench, averaging 11.6 points per
game over the last five contests.
The Suns are looking to beat the Warriors for the 14th-
consecutive time in Phoenix while also avenging a 102-96
loss to Golden State earlier this month, and will have to
contain the NBA’s fourth-best scoring, one that includes
prolific scorers like Monta Ellis, Stephen Curry and David
Lee.
Ellis and Lee, in particular, are a dangerous pair, being
one of five tandems averaging at least 18 points per game.
Lee can do more than just score, as he’s a good passer for
a big and even recorded a triple-double earlier this
month. He did not play in Phoenix’s win over the Warriors
in January, but dominated the Suns not long ago, scoring
28 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in a Golden St.
victory.
Ellis, though, leads the Warriors with 22.3 points per
game, and teams with Curry to form a dynamic-yet-small
back-court.
For the Warriors, big-men Ekpe Udoh (left knee sprain) and
Andris Biedrins (flu-like symptoms) are both listed as
day-to-day, while the Suns enter the game with no notable
injuries.
