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Blazers search for win at Phoenix

Jan 14, 2011 - 4:05 PM (Sports Network) - The Portland Trail Blazers hope to bounce back from a pair of consecutive home losses as well as the realization that All-Star swingman Brandon Roy isn't going to be available anytime soon when they visit a Phoenix Suns team they have already beaten three times this season.

Usually stellar on its home floor, Portland dropped its second straight in the Rose City on Tuesday when Amare Stoudemire finished with 23 points and eight rebounds, leading the New York Knicks to a 100-86 victory over the Trail Blazers.

LaMarcus Aldridge's 19 points and 10 rebounds led Portland, which was coming off Sunday's overtime loss to Miami. Marcus Camby hauled in 16 rebounds for Portland, while Rudy Fernandez had 18 points off the bench.

"We were slow on reacting to everything that they did," Blazers head coach Nate McMillan said. "I thought we looked like we were running in quick sand right from the start."

Things only got worse by Thursday when it was announced Roy will have arthroscopic surgery on both knees. The surgery is slated for next week and there is no timetable for the All-Star's return.

"I'm trying to do the best thing I can to get back on the floor," Roy said. "We've been able to get a number of different opinions and it's something we've decided."

The 26-year-old guard has already missed 16 games this season, including the last 13. The 2007 NBA Rookie of the Year has averaged 19.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists over four-plus campaigns and has led the Blazers in scoring in each of the last three seasons.

The Suns, meanwhile, won for the second time in three games on Wednesday in the desert when Steve Nash scored 10 of his 23 points in overtime as Phoenix pulled away for a 118-109 victory over the New Jersey Nets.

Nash hit eight free throws in overtime and had 16 assists for the game, helping the Suns come back from a 15-point deficit early in the fourth quarter for only their third win in 11 games overall.

Vince Carter also scored 23, including a key put-back ahead of the shot-clock buzzer that gave Phoenix a five-point lead with 1:57 left in overtime. Nash scored six of the last seven Suns points on free throws, icing the game. The former MVP was 11-for-11 at the foul line and inched ahead of Mark Price as the NBA's all-time leader in free throw percentage.

"We dug in and just found a way to win," said Suns coach Alvin Gentry.

The Blazers have won seven of eight overall against Phoenix.