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Bucks-Suns Preview

Jan 11, 2010 - 6:46 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Milwaukee (15-18) at Phoenix (23-14), 9:00 p.m. EDT

The Phoenix Suns have been frustrated by their inability to protect big leads recently. They've had little trouble holding on against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Hoping to rebound from a rare poor performance at US Airways Center, the Suns seek their 22nd straight home win over the Bucks on Monday night.

Phoenix (23-14) won its first 10 home games this season, averaging 116.9 points and shooting 51.7 percent, but has split its last eight contests there, including a 109-105 loss to Miami on Friday.

Phoenix jumped out to a 13-point advantage in the first half, but the Heat dominated the second quarter and took a 59-53 lead into the break. The Suns, who two nights earlier blew a 16-point lead against Houston before pulling out the victory, shot 43.4 percent - their second-worst shooting percentage at home this season.

The Suns were also unable to protect a lead against Sacramento last Tuesday, allowing the Kings to tie the game after leading by as many as 20 points.

"We need to have a consistent effort out there for a full 48 minutes," said Amare Stoudemire, who finished with 18 points against the Heat after averaging 26.0 in his previous five games. "We slacked a bit in the second half and we can't afford that. We have to do a better job of maintaining our intensity."

Phoenix had 17 turnovers, including six by Steve Nash. Nash has six or more turnovers in each of the last four games, although he's averaging 3.9 for the season. He went 6 of 15 from the field Friday to finish with 16 points.

Nash and the Suns will look to extend a 21-game home winning streak against the Bucks. They have scored at least 120 points in each of the last four overall meetings, including a 125-110 victory December 9, 2008, in the most recent matchup.

The last Milwaukee win in Phoenix came on Feb. 21, 1987, when the Suns played in Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

The Bucks (15-19) won't stand much of a chance of ending that skid if their play doesn't dramatically improve from Sunday's 95-77 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Milwaukee shot 34.1 percent and scored only eight points in the opening quarter. The 77 points were the team's fewest since losing 91-73 at Cleveland on March 4.

Brandon Jennings scored 10 points - the only starter in double figures. Even more disconcerting was that starting guard Michael Redd left the game with a sore left knee and is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday in Phoenix.

Redd was scoreless in nearly 12 minutes. He has struggled with knee problems all season and has been limited to 18 games.

"I felt a pop making a turn. It's not as swollen as it was when I tore my ACL, which is good. But at the same time, it still hurts," he said. "It's very frustrating."

If Redd is out, that increases the pressure on Jennings, the Bucks' leading scorer at 18.3. Jennings has slumped recently, scoring 24 total points in the last three games while shooting 23.5 percent (8 for 34).

He'll look to help Milwaukee snap a six-game overall losing streak against Phoenix.

One key for the Bucks is containing Stoudemire, who has not lost in 11 games against Milwaukee. He's averaging 25.0 points and 9.0 rebounds in his last three home games against the Bucks.