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Suns look to continue hot streak vs. Nets

Nov 24, 2006 - 4:51 PM New Jersey (5-6) at Phoenix (5-6) 10:30 pm EST

PHOENIX (Ticker) - Steve Nash and Jason Kidd forever will be linked on the court. This season, their teams are surprisingly similar.

Arguably the league's two top point guards will face off when the Phoenix Suns host the New Jersey Nets on Friday.

The duo played together with the Suns from 1996-1998, when Nash served as Kidd's backup. Since then, Nash has moved into a starting - and starring - role of his own.

Both play at a high tempo and make their teammates better. However, in 2006-07, their teams have not lived up to expectations.

But Phoenix looked to be turning it around Wednesday with its best defensive effort of the season. The Suns received 24 points from Nash to overcome a scoreless effort from Amare Stoudemire in a 92-83 victory over the New Orleans Hornets, their fourth win in five games.

The Suns came in averaging a league-best 108 points. However, they also were giving up a league-worst 108.1 points per game, which somewhat explained their sluggish 4-6 start.

The Nets, who are a favorite in the Eastern Conference, also have started the season slowly. Nenad Krstic scored 18 points, Richard Jefferson added 16 and Kidd handed out 14 assists for the Nets, who saw their defense disappear down the stretch in a 100-97 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday.

New Jersey has lost its last 12 trips to Phoenix.