• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Celtics resume road trip in the Valley of the Sun

Jan 28, 2011 - 4:28 PM (Sports Network) - The Boston Celtics will resume a four-game road trip tonight against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center.

Boston opened the road swing with an 88-78 victory in Portland on Thursday, as Ray Allen and Paul Pierce scored 18 and 17 points, respectively, for the Celtics, who have won 11 of 14 overall and improved to 13-7 away from Beantown this season.

Rajon Rondo had 11 points, six rebounds and five assists, while Kevin Garnett compiled 10 points, nine boards and nine assists in the win.

"[Portland] played extremely hard tonight, and you knew they would (by) reading the papers about how physical they were going to be with us," Celtics head coach Doc Rivers said. "When we read that we actually like it. That means [the game] is going to be played our way."

Celtics center Kendrick Perkins had 10 points and nine rebounds off the bench. Boston will also visit the Lakers and Kings on the trip. Pierce left the game against the Blazers with an ankle/knee injury and should be ready for tonight.

Phoenix has lost three in a row since a five-game winning streak and opened a five-game homestand with Wednesday's 114-107 setback versus Charlotte.

Steve Nash scored a game-high 27 and dished out 15 assists, while Vince Carter added 22 points and six rebounds for the Suns, who are 11-10 at home and will also welcome the Hornets, Bucks and Thunder to the desert.

"It was a tough loss," Phoenix head coach Alvin Gentry said. "We didn't execute and complete plays very well. We have to find a way to dig ourselves out of this. I told the guys in the locker room that we are the only ones who can do that."

Carter was able to pass former Sun Tom Chambers for 36th on the NBA's all-time scoring list. Nash's 25 double-doubles this season is tops among NBA guards.

The Celtics and Suns are meeting for the first time since Phoenix swept a home-and-home series a year ago. The Suns have won seven of 10 meetings with Boston, losers in 10 of their last 14 trips to the Valley of the Sun.