Phoenix Suns host New York Knicks hoping to stop another losing streak

The Phoenix take the court tonight in a post-Christmas matchup against the New York Knicks. New York will hope to avoid a losing streak, having lost their last game to the Los Angeles Lakers. Phoenix, on the other hand, is looking to avoid their third straight loss. They have been a streaky bunch. They have lost two straight, but before that they won four straight and lost seven straight.

The Knicks sit atop the Atlantic Division at 20-8, and number two in the Eastern Conference. Phoenix is 11-17, fourth place in the Pacific Division.

The task is tall. The Suns will have to find a way to slow Carmelo Anthony and his over 28 points per game. The Knicks average over 102 points per game and shoot the three very well and do it a lot. They throw up over 29 three per game and hit over 39 percent of them.

The Suns allow 100 points per game and have been awful defending the three, with opponents hitting over 40 percent of them. This seems to be a terrible combination.

However, in their last meeting earlier this month, the Suns battled to the end in a 106-99 loss, despite Anthony's 34 points. They rallied from behind, 17 down at halftime, but could not close the gap completely. They got within four points at the end, 103-99, but came up short.

In that matchup, Marcin Gortat had 18 points and 10 rebounds. and Shannon Brown had 17 points.