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Warriors aim to snap skid in desert vs. Suns

Jan 2, 2012 - 3:48 PM (Sports Network) - The Golden State Warriors haven't had the best of luck playing in the desert and hope the new year will bring some better fortunes. The Warriors will try to snap a lengthy losing streak at Phoenix when they visit the Suns this afternoon at US Airways Center.

The Warriors have dropped six in a row to the Suns and are winless in the last 12 meetings as the visitor in this series. They haven't won in Phoenix since a 110-100 victory back on March 18, 2005.

Golden State went 2-2 on a season-opening four-game homestand and will play three straight games on the road against the Suns, Spurs and Lakers. In Saturday?s 107-79 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers at Oracle Arena, Stephen Curry led the way with 21 points, while David Lee added 19 with eight rebounds, as Golden State had its two-game win streak snapped.

The Warriors were playing without leading scorer Monta Ellis, who was excused from the team on Friday to attend his grandmother's funeral in Mississippi. Ellis is probable for tonight for Golden State, which blew a 20-7 lead early on against the 76ers.

"We had an opportunity to come out and put our foot on the gas pedal at that point. When we didn't, we let them back in the game and they hit a lot of shots and that turned into a lot of easy possessions," said Curry.

Phoenix has lost three of four to start the season and is 0-2 at home.

The Suns are coming off Saturday?s 107-97 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, as Markieff Morris and Hakim Warrick paced the Suns with 15 points apiece, while Jared Dudley added 14 points and five boards and Marcin Gortat netted 12 points to go with six rebounds for Phoenix.

"We did not defend the way we wanted to," Suns forward Channing Frye said. "Their guys made shots early and we did not. I think we are very inconsistent on offense right now and I guess that just comes with trust and time. We have to grind it out."

The Suns were coming off their first win of the season, a 93-78 victory over New Orleans. They hope to avoid losing three in a row at home to start a season since the 2005-06 campaign.