Final
Suns play with Magic in the desert
Nov 30, 2014 - 3:40 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Phoenix Suns have lost two of three games following a four-game win streak and look to get back on track Sunday versus the visiting Orlando Magic at US Airways Center.The Suns split a home-and-home series with the Denver Nuggets and dropped a 122-97 decision at the Pepsi Center Friday night. Arron Afflalo led seven Denver players in double figures with 22 points, while the Suns were paced by 16 points from Eric Bledsoe and never held a lead.
Gerald Green had 12 points for the Suns, who shot 38.8 percent and made eight of their 23 shots from 3-point range. Denver killed Phoenix on the glass to the tune of 58 rebounds to 34.
"We were soft to rebounds," Suns coach Jeff Hornacek said. "If you can get away with pushing in the back then go ahead. That's what they were doing and nobody was cracking anybody to get them out of there."
P.J. Tucker, Archie Goodwin and T.J. Warren each scored 11 points in defeat.
Phoenix posted a 120-112 victory over the Nuggets on Wednesday.
Suns reserve guard Isaiah Thomas missed both games against the Nuggets with a bruised ankle and is questionable Sunday. Thomas, in his first season with Phoenix, is averaging 15.5 points per game.
The Suns will also host Indiana on Tuesday and are 5-3 at home. The 10-7 start is the best mark through 17 games since a 14-3 record in 2009-10.
Orlando has lost four in a row and opened a six-game road trip with Friday's 98-83 setback in Indiana.
Nikola Vucevic had 16 points and seven rebounds, and both Tobias Harris and Victor Oladipo netted 14 points. Ben Gordon scored 12 points for the Magic, who shot 44.3 percent and turned the ball over 18 times for 20 Indiana points.
The Pacers dominated the glass with 53 rebounds to Orlando's 32 boards. They had 17 offensive rebounds and the Magic grabbed only two.
"They played better defense, that's the bottom line. They killed us on the boards from the time the game started. We need to stick to our game plan. We need to play defense, play defense then offense," Harris said.
The Magic are 4-7 on the road and will also visit Golden State, the Clippers, Utah and Sacramento.
Phoenix took both meetings with Orlando last season, but the Magic have a 7-3 record in the last 10 games in this series. The Suns, though, are 9-2 in the past 11 matchups at home.
- ORLANDO: 93
PHOENIX: 90
Final
Nov 30 10:32 PM - ORLANDO: 69
PHOENIX: 58
End of 3rd
Nov 30 9:45 PM - ORLANDO: 52
PHOENIX: 39
Halftime
Nov 30 9:09 PM - ORLANDO: 27
PHOENIX: 23
End of 1st
Nov 30 8:34 PM - ORLANDO: 0
PHOENIX: 0
1st Quarter - 11:40
Nov 30 8:12 PM
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