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Suns continue playoff climb in Houston

Mar 6, 2009 - 11:14 AM Phoenix (34-27) at Houston (39-23) 8:30 p.m. EST

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- The Phoenix Suns don't have too much time to get their playoff plans in order - and with most of the rest of their Western Conference competitors showing no sign of slowing down, time is of the essence.

The Suns get a chance to cut into their deficit on Friday night as they visit the Houston Rockets.

Having dropped two in a row, Phoenix has seen its chances dwindle lately. Without All-Star forward Amare Stoudemire, who is out for the season with a detached retina that required surgery, the Suns' run-and-gun offense hasn't been quite as potent as it was in the first two games following the All-Star break.

The Rockets, on the other hand, have done quite well without their star, going 8-2 since Tracy McGrady went down with a season-ending knee injury. They lost in Utah on Wednesday, getting torched by Deron Williams to the tune of 26 points and 14 assists in a 101-94 win for the Jazz.