Nets 110 - 103 Suns
Final
  for this game

Nets take on Suns in the desert

Jan 13, 2012 - 3:37 PM (Sports Network) - The struggling New Jersey Nets will resume a four-game road trip in the desert tonight against the Suns.

Turning things around in Phoenix will not be easy for New Jersey, however. The Nets have consistently struggled in the Valley of the Sun, dropping 16 of their past 17 visits.

The Nets have lost nine of 10 overall since winning their season opener with the latest defeat coming Wednesday in Denver when Danilo Gallinari led six teammates in double-figures with 22 points as the Nuggets downed New Jersey, 123-115.

Jordan Farmar scored a season-high 26 points off the bench, and Anthony Morrow had 23 points for the Nets, who have lost three straight and fell to 2-9 on the season.

Deron Williams went for a double-double with 16 points and 13 assists and Kris Humphries donated 12 points and nine rebounds for New Jersey, which continues to play without star center Brook Lopez (stress fracture, right foot), the twin brother of Phoenix backup pivot Robin Lopez.

"It was pretty good offense for our team," Nets head coach Avery Johnson said. "Any time you score 115 points, you would think that it's going to be a win. We shot the ball well, we just couldn't get any stops defensively."

After tonight the Nets, who are 2-5 as the visitor on the year, will continue their swing with visits to Utah and the LA Clippers.

The Suns haven't been playing all that well either and dropped the opener of a brief two-game homestand to Cleveland on Thursday. Rookie star Kyrie Irving outdueled Steve Nash in that one, scoring a game-high 26 points.

Nash had 16 points and 15 assists while Marcin Gortat posted a double-double of 14 points and 10 boards for Phoenix, which dropped its second straight overall and saw its three-game home winning streak come to an end.

Former All-Star Michael Redd scored 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting, including a 3-of-7 effort from beyond the arc, in his Suns debut. Redd, an 11-year veteran with a history of knee problems, signed with the Suns on Dec. 29. He had spent his entire career in Milwaukee.

"For me this is the preseason," Redd said. "This is all fresh for me. I just have to continue working hard to get better."

The Suns, who will hit the road for a five-game trip after tonight's game, have won four straight and nine of 10 overall vs. the Nets.






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