The Phoenix Suns will look for their first win of the season Friday night when they get a second shot at the New Orleans Hornets. The Suns lost their first meeting in the final seconds, but only a few days later things will be much different.
Aside from playing on the road for the first time this season, the Suns will be facing a New Orleans lineup who will have their starting point guard (Jarrett Jack) back from suspension but will likely be without guard Eric Gordon due to a knee bruise.
Recent games:
The Suns are coming off an embarrassing butt-whooping at home Wednesday night at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers. For the second time in two games, the previously high-octane Suns offense didn't break the 85 point mark. Steve Nash had what he called one of his worst games and the Suns have yet to find consistent shooting from Jared Dudley or Channing Frye.
The Suns are 0-2 on the season and will need to find scoring somewhere to avoid their third-straight loss.
The Hornets beat the Boston Celtics 97-78 at home on Wednesday. Gordon did not play in that game due to a knee bruise suffered in Phoenix, but point guard Jarrett Jack was back from his one-game suspension and poured in 21 points.
Carl Landry added 20 in the win but it's the defense that has been the key to the Hornets 2-0 start according to coach Monty Williams, "I think our guys understand the way we have to play. We don't have the go-to guys that we necessarily had last season. We have them in a different way with different guys stepping up, and that does build confidence.''
Projected starting lineups:
Hornet's coach Monty Williams said Eric Gordon was unlikely to play Friday night against Phoenix but New Orleans will have starting point guard Jarrett Jack on the floor. The Suns are expected to start their same lineup they've used in the last two games.
- Point guard: Steve Nash -- Jarrett Jack
- Shooting guard: Jared Dudley -- Marco Belinelli
- Small forward: Grant Hill -- Trevor Ariza
- Power forward: Channing Frye -- Carl Landry
- Center: Marcin Gortat -- Emeka Okafor
- Key subs: Suns (Robin Lopez, Markieff Morris, Shannon Brown, Ronnie Price). Hornets (Chris Kaman, Greivis Vasquez, Al-Farouq Aminu, Jason Smith)
Phoenix signed veteran shooting guard Michael Redd on Thursday but it will be several weeks before Redd sees the court for the Suns.
Start time and broadcast information:
The Phoenix Suns vs. New Orleans Hornets tips at 6:00 p.m. local time and with the TV broadcast on Fox Sports Arizona and radio broadcast on Arizona Sports 620.
Live game thread will be at Bright Side of the Sun.
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