Welcoming The Nets
For the past 13 years, the New Jersey Nets have made their annual trip to Phoenix – and have left with a loss each time.
The Western Conference-leading Suns look to extend their run at home against the Nets when they meet Sunday night at US Airways Center in the lone NBA game on the schedule.
Oddsmakers from SBG Global have made Phoenix -11 point spread favorites (NBA Odds) for today’s game, the over/under has been set at 210 total points (Matchup). Our public betting information shows that 50% of bets for this game have been placed on New Jersey +11 (View NBA Bet Percentages).
Phoenix (28-12) has not lost to New Jersey at home since a 124-93 defeat on March 13, 1993, winning each matchup after that by an average of 11.8 points per game. This season, the Suns are 14-4 at home, and has won their last four there by 14.3 points.
This will be the first meeting between the Suns and Nets since Dec. 7, 2006, when Steve Nash had a career-high 42 points with 13 assists in a 161-157 double-overtime win at New Jersey. Phoenix swept the season series from the Nets in 2006-07, and has won six of the last seven meetings overall.
Nash had 26 points and 13 assists in a 99-93 home win over the Nets on Nov. 24, 2006, and is averaging 27.7 points and 9.3 assists in three home games against New Jersey since rejoining the Suns before the 2004-05 season.
Nash had a near-flawless performance in Friday’s 115-95 win over Minnesota. The two-time league MVP, was 6-for-6 from the field and 4-for-4 from the free throw line for 17 points with 13 assists and just one turnover.
"He was pretty efficient tonight, I would think,” Phoenix coach Mike D’Antoni said.
Nash is averaging 19.8 points and 13.3 assists in his last four games after missing the Suns’ 108-86 loss to Utah on Jan. 10 due to stomach flu.
Phoenix won for the ninth time in 12 games on Friday, but just its third in the last five. The Suns have a one-half game lead over Dallas and New Orleans in the West, and a one-game lead over the second-place Los Angeles Lakers in the Pacific Division.
"It’s the NBA and it’s a long season, so it’s just a matter of us going out there and playing ball and going out there and doing what we have to do to get the win," said Shawn Marion, who had 18 points and six rebounds on Friday.
Marion had 49 points and 19 boards in the two games against the Nets last season. He’s averaging 17.3 points and 9.9 rebounds in seven home games against them.
Amare Stoudemire is averaging 25.8 points and 10.0 rebounds in four career home games against New Jersey, and had 48 points and 21 rebounds against the Nets last season. The two-time All-Star had 23 points and 11 rebounds on Friday.
New Jersey (18-21) opened its six-game road trip on Saturday with a 120-107 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. The Nets, who have lost four in a row, and five of six following a season-high five-game winning streak, were outscored 19-6 in overtime.
"They executed very well and played really well on defense,” said Josh Boone, who had 17 points and 16 rebounds. "That’s what it came down to once we got to overtime. They were able to play defense and get the win.”
Richard Jefferson scored 21 points on 5-of-14 shooting on Saturday, and is averaging 17.3 points on 37.0 percent shooting in his last four games after averaging 25.5 points on 49.3 percent shooting in his previous four.
Jefferson is averaging just 13.4 points in five career games in Phoenix.
Against the Clippers, Jason Kidd fell short of his 11th triple-double of the season, finishing with 10 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds.
Since being traded to New Jersey by the Suns in 2001, Kidd is averaging 16.4 points, 5.6 assists and 8.8 rebounds in five games at Phoenix. He’s never recorded a triple-double on the road against the Suns after joining the Nets.
By: Marc Young – theSpread.com – Email Us
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