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Suns eye season high-tying eight-game winning streak

Mar 24, 2008 - 1:00 PM Phoenix (47-22) at Detroit (49-20) 7:30 pm EDT

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan (Ticker) - The last time they saw the Detroit Pistons, the Phoenix Suns were just getting used to their new post presence. Exactly one month later, they appear plenty comfortable.

The Suns target their season high-tying eighth straight win on Monday when they travel to the Palace of Auburn Hills to meet the Pistons.

On February 24, Phoenix was playing just its third game with Shaquille O'Neal. Despite 31 points from Amare Stoudemire and 11 rebounds from O'Neal, the Suns looked disoriented in a 111-81 thrashing at the hands of the Pistons.

The Suns, who own the best field goal shooting percentage in the league at 49.9 percent, shot just 41 percent (32-for-77) in that setback.

However, after starting 3-6 with O'Neal in the lineup, the Suns have started to roll with wins over likely playoff teams such as San Antonio, Golden State and on Saturday, Houston, 122-113. Stoudemire scored 38 points - including a franchise-record 20-of-20 free throws - while O'Neal added 23 points and 13 boards.

Phoenix also won eight straight from November 9-23.

Meanwhile, the Pistons are trying to avoid matching a season-high three-game losing streal set from January 18-21. The Pistons' latest loss came in Sunday's 95-83 road setback against the Washington Wizards.