Game 70: Portland (42-28) @ Phoenix(43-26)

[WTFsunsFTW]

vs

Broadcasting on at 7:30 pm

Starters:

Phoenix
Nash
Richardson
Hill
Stoudemire
Lopez

Portland
Miller
Roy
Batum
Aldridge
Camby

The visiting Trail Blazers look to match a season high with their sixth straight win Sunday night while trying for a fifth consecutive victory over the Suns and a sweep of the season series for the first time in 11 years.

After enduring a 5-8 stretch from late January into February, Portland (42-28) has won 10 of 12 to solidify itself as a playoff contender in the Western Conference. Though the Trail Blazers are in eighth place, they're 1 1/2 games behind fifth-place Oklahoma City and sixth-place Phoenix, which is a game out of the fourth spot.

The Suns (43-26) have won three in a row and 11 of 14, but haven't beaten the Trail Blazers since Nov. 22, 2008. Portland's won both meetings this season, including 108-101 at Phoenix on Feb. 10 to snap a nine-game road losing streak to the Suns. The Trail Blazers haven't swept a season series from Phoenix since 1998-99.

[MaryvalesFinest]

Earl Clark's 20 points and 9 rebounds he's been averaging the past 3 game will help, Suns win by 4!

[Jimmy76]

Earl Clark's 20 points and 9 rebounds he's been averaging the past 3 game will help, Suns win by 4!

we got em at home and we're the better team just need to play like it

[Blackification]

ooo they lost blake who kills us but got camby who hurts us.. i expect amare to dominate aldridge and robin to make it hard for camby on both ends

[swe_suns]

Denver lost tonight leaving us only 3 games behind in the loss column. I expect Utah to lose against Boston on Monday and Okc to fall either against Indiana or against San Antonio. If we can win tonight and tomorrow we'll be tied for the 4th spot with the 3rd seed very much in reach (Denver has a very though remaining schedule plus we have the last game against them on our homecourt).

Portland is playing some good basketball so be aware. They give up very few points and we can't let them control the game like last time. It's time for some payback for the last two losses against them.

[sunskerr]

I thought we were only 1 game behind Utah after they won...all the standings now show we're 1.5 games behind. Were we not a half game behind after our victory over them?

[DaDragicShow]

Thanx for making a game thread I was too lazy to actually make one. Blazers have been rolling lately winning like 6 straight games. So we need to come out hungry like we did against the Jazz if we wanna win. I believe this will be Barbosa's breakout game with something like 18 and 5

[DaDragicShow]

I thought we were only 1 game behind Utah after they won...all the standings now show we're 1.5 games behind. Were we not a half game behind after our victory over them?

It was 1 game and should be half game now behind the Jazz. The standings are slacking lately.

[lilfishi22]

With something like 13 games left, I think we have to get into playoff mode. If we come out hot like we did against the Jazz and we take care of business, we should be OK. But they are a tough team who are coming off a 6 game winning streak and they'll definitely be playing hard to keep up their playoff momentum.

We have to get AMare going early like we did against the Jazz. As usual the guy we have to watch out for is Roy but I think the surprise could be Dre Miller.

[DaDragicShow]

lilfishi if Amar'e keeps putting up 40+ points then we got a great chance to win the game.

[blackjays1]

These games are must-winners cuz they got an eastcoast road trip which they'll probably lose 1 or 2 games, then a stretch of SAN, @OKC, HOU, DEN, @UTA which will pretty much decide where they're seeded. Giving home games up like these at this point is unexcusable.

Suns win by 7, Barbosa has a much better comeback game with double-digit points.

[Qwigglez]

Crap. I forgot they got Marcus Camby. What we gotta do is make Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge do the heavy lifting. They have a pretty good bench and we have to neutralize them. I don't really like when Nash goes against heavier point guards, but I'm hoping Andre Miller struggles shooting because if he gets it going then it opens up the passing lane.
I hope Amare has a field day.

[Qwigglez]

Oh and their five game win streak isn't that impressive. Against the Kings, Warriors, Kings, Raptors and Wizards.

[DaDragicShow]

Tonight we dine in hell, We are Spartans

[LV-Suns]

A win right here put us in a comfortable lead over the Blazers. Last thing we need right now is blow games such as these. Gives the Blazers the season series and the gives us only a half game lead over them Hopefully, Amare dominates like he has been doing.

[swe_suns]

OKC - IND 59-81, hello 5th seed

[hunterxaz]

Let's not jinx, a loss for them and win tonight for us would be great though. And another win tomorrow. 45-26 would be radical.

[swe_suns]

Huge game tonight, Portland could catch us soon if we end up losing this game. Anyway, both OKC and Denver have extremely tough remaining schedules so I'm optimistic!

[A roc 23]

Wow I never thought Indy would blow out OKC. Suns need to take advantage of this. 6 hours to go (I'm bored).

[swe_suns]