[narek]

TEAMS: Bucks (16-25) vs. Phoenix Suns (29-12).

WHEN: 7 tonight.

WHERE: Bradley Center.

BROADCASTS: TV - FSN Wisconsin cable. Radio - AM-620.

ABOUT THE SUNS: This will be the first game on a trip that will also take the Suns to Minnesota, Cleveland and Chicago. Since the Bucks lost in Phoenix on Jan. 12, the Suns have lost to the Los Angeles Clippers but then defeated the Lakers, Minnesota and New Jersey. Phoenix leads the league in scoring (110.0) and field-goal percentage (49.0%).

PLAYER TO WATCH
AMARE STOUDEMIRE, Suns

He had a big game in the Suns' victory over the Bucks in Phoenix, finishing with 31 points and eight rebounds. He ranks ninth in the league in scoring (22.5) and has played an average of 31.3 minutes per game, the least of anyone ranked among the top 29 in scoring. Stoudemire has recorded 17 double-doubles this season and is second to Yao Ming in the all-star voting for Western Conference centers.

LINEUPS
PROBABLE SUNS STARTERS

Player Ht. From
G-Steve Nash 6-3 Santa Clara
G-Raja Bell 6-5 Florida Intl.
F-Boris Diaw 6-8 France
F-Shawn Marion 6-7 UNLV
C-Amare Stoudemire 6-10 Orlando

Coach: Mike D'Antoni (fifth season, 227-121; sixth overall, 240-157).

Injury report: Grant Hill (appendectomy) is out.

PROBABLE BUCKS STARTERS

Player Ht. From
G-Mo Williams 6-1 Alabama
G-Michael Redd 6-6 Ohio State
F-Bobby Simmons 6-6 DePaul
F-Yi Jianlian 7-0 China
C-Andrew Bogut 7-0 Utah

Coach: Larry Krystkowiak (second season, 21-38).

Injury report: Desmond Mason (left thumb) is out. Simmons (sprained neck) is day to day.

THE SERIES
The Bucks lost to the Suns on Jan. 12 in Phoenix, 122-114. The Suns have won 29 of the last 33 games against Milwaukee.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=709592

[narek]

At least the Bucks didn't collapse in the third quarter.

It always amazes me how quickly the Suns can get into their offense. And of course the Bucks couldn't do anything about Nash in the final minutes of the game. Another example of not knowing how to close out a game.

CV should have played more, and Simmons had a good game. Bogut another strong game, but it just wasn't enough.

[narek]

ON THE COURT
PLAYER OF THE GAME:Steve Nash drained 5 three-pointers, scoring 37 points, and handed out 10 assists for the Suns. His three-pointer with 2 minutes 4 seconds left slammed the door on the Bucks. "Steve kind of closed the deal," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said.

PLAY OF THE GAME: Inbounding from under their own basket, the Suns got what was the dagger for the Bucks. "That's one of those moments that has kind of been biting us in the rump lately," Bucks coach Larry Krystkowiak said.

OFF THE BENCH: Krystkowiak leaned heavily on the bench in the second quarter and the reserves delivered as Milwaukee outscored the Suns, 38-24. Among the reserves, Charlie Villanueva had eight points, five rebounds and three assists in 9 minutes; Charlie Bell had three points, three assists and two rebounds, and Awvee Storey and Jake Voskuhl played 5 minutes each.

STATISTICS SHEET: Phoenix drained 11 of 24 three-point shots, compared with four of 16 for the Bucks. "That's a normal night for them," Krystkowiak said. "Us shooting 25%, I think that hurt a little bit. That was one of the differences in the game."

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=710336