Suns coach Porter: 'Shaq has had enough rest'

Jan 25, 2009 - 10:21 PM PHOENIX (Ticker) -- Phoenix Suns head coach Terry Porter told the Arizona Republic on Sunday that center Shaquille O'Neal will not get a day off when the team plays back-to-back games the rest of the season.

The decision came after the Suns have lost five of six - including an embarrassing 98-76 loss to Charlotte on Friday. Phoenix had won all eight meetings with the Bobcats prior to that setback.

The Suns had been trying to preserve O'Neal, who turns 37 in March, by holding him out of the second game of back-to-back contests.

However, Porter seems to be sensing a bit of urgency with Phoenix (23-18) on the outside looking in at the Western Conference postseason race.

The Suns are 1-3 on their current six-game road trip. They play at Atlanta on Sunday and at Washington on Monday.

O'Neal is averaging 17.9 points and 9.0 rebounds in 34 games.

"I doubt he'll get one of these off," Porter told the Republic. "He's had enough rest. We need everybody collectively to get us through this."