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Nash leads hot Suns against Raptors

Jan 3, 2007 - 3:00 PM Phoenix (22-8) at Toronto (13-18) 7:00 pm EST

TORONTO (Ticker) -- After defeating the top two teams in the Eastern Conference, the Phoenix Suns travel to Toronto on Wednesday to face the Atlantic Division leading Raptors.

On Sunday two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash and Phoenix posted a 108-101 victory in Detroit. Nash scored 35 points and added 12 assists for the Suns, who are 8-0 on the road vs. Eastern Conference teams.

In Tuesday's 97-96 victory over Chicago, Nash scored 11 points dished out 13 assists while Amare Stoudemire had 24 points and a season-high 18 rebounds for Phoenix, which is 13-1 vs. Eastern Conference foes in 2006-07.

However the big hero against Chicago was Leandro Barbosa who nailed a 3-pointer with Bulls guard Ben Gordon in his face with 1.5 seconds remaining to help the Suns win their third straight game.

The Raptors could be getting Chris Bosh back after the All-Star missed 12 games with a knee injury. The 6-11 forward-center leads Toronto with averages of 20.5 points and 12.2 rebounds.

He missed Toronto's 110-104 loss to Memphis on Saturday. Morris Peterson scored 19 points and Jorge Garbajosa added 15 for the Raptors, who have lost two straight and three of their last four games, yet remain tied with New Jersey for the top of the mediocre Atlantic Division.

Toronto will probably be without point guard T.J. Ford who suffered an ankle injury vs. Chicago on Friday.

Phoenix has posted five consecutive wins over Toronto, which is 8-4 at home this season, but hasn't beaten the Suns since February 10, 2004.