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Suns, Blazers go at it in the desert

Jan 6, 2012 - 3:45 PM (Sports Network) - Long time Western Conference rivals square off in the desert Friday when the Phoenix Suns play host to the streaking Portland Trail Blazers.

The Blazers improved to a Western Conference-best 5-1 on the season Thursday with an impressive 107-96 win over the Lakers in Rip City.

Gerald Wallace stole the show, scoring 31 points as Portland improved to 4-0 at a raucous Rose Garden.

LaMarcus Aldridge posted 28 points and 10 rebounds, Jamal Crawford added 17 points of instant offense in just over 23 minutes and Wesley Matthews chipped in 16 points for the Blazers.

"We've done some good things [early in the season]," Portland head coach Nate McMillan said. "These are some of the top teams in the conference, so it's been a challenge for us."

The Suns, who will finish a brief two-game homestand against Milwaukee on Sunday, have dropped two of three after falling, 98-89, in Dallas on Wednesday.

Marcin Gortat had a season-high 22 points and 10 boards to lead the Suns, who have uncharacteristically struggled on offense this season. Steve Nash had 15 points and 12 assists and Grant Hill finished with 14 points.

Hakim Warrick, the Suns' leading scorer at just 12.8 ppg, scored nine off the bench but the Phoenix reserves were plastered, 51-21.

"That's where the separation came, with the second units," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. "That's where the lead came and it was hard for us to overcome."

Since Nash arrived in the desert for the 2004-05 season Phoenix has traditionally had a high-octane offense, finishing in the NBA's top five every season. In 2011-12, however, the Suns are averaging just 91.3 ppg, 24th in the NBA.

The Blazers have won seven of their last nine regular-season meetings with the Suns but Phoenix snapped a three-game skid in the series with a victory last January.