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Slumping Suns visit Johnson, Hawks

Jan 25, 2009 - 7:13 AM Phoenix (23-18) at Atlanta (26-16), 6:00 p.m. EST

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- The Phoenix Suns are struggling to find their rhythm away from home. Familiar faces have played a large role in those shortcomings.

Phoenix will look to snap a three-game losing streak when it visits the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday.

After winning the opener of a six-game road trip at Toronto last Sunday, Phoenix was blown out at Boston before losing to the New York Knicks and former coach Mike D'Antoni on Wednesday.

It did not get much better on Friday where the Suns were blasted by the lowly Charlotte Bobcats, 98-76.

Shaquille O'Neal scored 20 points to lead Phoenix, which saw former Suns forward Boris Diaw torch his old team for 26 points and 11 rebounds.

The Suns hope they can avoid being burned by another familiar face on the Hawks. Joe Johnson, who leads Atlanta in scoring at 21.7 points per game, was a member of the Suns for parts of four seasons.

Atlanta, which has won three straight overall, is 17-4 at home this season and is coming off a 117-87 rout of Milwaukee on Friday. Mike Bibby had 15 of the Hawks' 31 assists in the win.