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Bell, Diaw face old team when Bobcats meet Suns

Jan 23, 2009 - 11:21 AM Phoenix (23-17) at Charlotte (17-25) 7:00 p.m. EST

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) -- Raja Bell and Boris Diaw will have their shot at revenge on Friday.

Bell and Diaw will be playing against their old team when the Charlotte Bobcats face the Phoenix Suns on Friday.

Sent to Charlotte as part of general manager Steve Kerr's efforts to remake the Suns, Bell and Diaw were not happy about the circumstances surrounding their departure, most notably a rebuilding plan that has seen coach Mike D'Antoni and All-Star forward Shawn Marion pushed out the door in front of them.

"It definitely wasn't as fun," Diaw said of the new-look Suns upon his departure. "It wasn't as exciting for the fans. It's not as fun for everybody (on the team). I'll always remember Phoenix with Mike (D'Antoni). We went from a winning team that was the most exciting team in the league to a half-winning team that wasn't exciting at all."

Bell and Diaw have quickly become fixtures in coach Larry Brown's rotation in Charlotte and are two of the biggest reasons behind the club's recent surge.

The Bobcats have won 10 of 19 since the two arrived, including four of the last five.

Bell has scored 25 points in each of the last two games, knocking down 11-of-17 shots on Wednesday en route to a 101-86 triumph over the Memphis Grizzlies. Diaw finished with eight points, eight rebounds and seven assists and nailed a key 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter to push the lead to double digits.

Phoenix has dropped four of its last five games, including a 114-109 setback against D'Antoni and the New York Knicks on Wednesday. Jason Richardson, the player the Suns received in exchange for Diaw, Bell and reserve guard Sean Singletary, led the way with 27 points.

Richardson is averaging just over 15 points per game with Phoenix after pouring in 18.7 per game with the Bobcats.