Game 5: Wednesday, November 8th, 6:00 PM (PST - Arizona)






Phoenix Suns
(1-3)


<table border=2 align=center>
<tr align=center>
<td>
<td>
<td>
<td>
<td>
<tr align=center>
<td>Nash
<td>Barbosa
<td>Bell
<td>Marion
<td>Stoudemire
<tr align=center>
<td>
<td>
<td>
<td>
<td>
<tr align=center>
<td>Banks
<td>Diaw
<td>Rose
<td>JaJones
<td>Thomas
</table>




@



San Antonio Spurs
(3-1)


<table border=2 align=center>
<tr align=center>
<td>
<td>
<td>
<td>
<td>
<tr align=center>
<td>Parker
<td>Ginobili
<td>Bowen
<td>Oberto
<td>Duncan
<tr align=center>
<td>
<td>
<td>
<td>
<td>
<tr align=center>
<td>Udrih
<td>Barry
<td>Finley
<td>Horry
<td>Elson
</table>



Suns Previous Game

Clippers 114 - Suns 108

The Suns were targeted for revenge by the Clippers for their home opening win in game 2 of the season, and the Suns did not answer the challenge. With the same offensive, defensive, and rebounding struggles the Suns stayed close but could not overcome L.A. when it counted. Boris Diaw was moved back into the starting lineup, but once again did not produce results. He had only 3 rebounds in 30 minutes and failed to record a single assist. Leandro remained in the starting lineup while Raja Bell tries to exit his shooting slump, but he also struggled. The Suns committed 33 fouls, which put the Clippers on the line 45 times. Steve Nash was in MVP form, recording 28 points and 13 assists. Shawn Marion tallied 25 points and 15 rebounds in the loss.

Spurs Previous Game

Spurs 105 - Knicks 93

Game Notes

This matchup seemingly could not come at a worse time for the Suns. They are struggling to put together a rotation that is effective enough to win basketball games, and tonight will not get any easier as they face a Spurs team who many hold as the favorite to win the 2006-07 NBA Championship. Amare Stoudemire has been moved into the starting lineup and Jalen Rose will be available off the bench in his first game with the Suns. San Antonio has won 10 of the last 11 meetings at home against the Suns. The Suns have not played since Saturday night, so hopefully that has given them some time to gain some conditining in practice and starting melding as a team.

Injuries

No injuries reported for the Suns.


Vegas Odds
MGM-Mirage

Favorite: SAS
Point spread: -6

Originally Posted by bootstrenf hate to say it, but i'm thinking that the spurs are gonna beat the suns...

Originally Posted by ShuHanGuanYu This game's probably gonna be ugly. Spurs are rounding into form while the Suns are in search-mode. I just hope the Suns can play some defense in this game, because even a 118-116 regular season win doesn't mean a thing to me. I want to see them get early last year's defense back, the defense that got key stops in the 4th quarter of a win against San Antonio. Well, a win would still make me happy, but trying to make a point here...

By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN, STATS Senior Writer The last time the San Antonio Spurs played against Amare Stoudemire, two-time league MVP Tim Duncan came away impressed with the Phoenix Suns budding superstar. That must seem like a long time ago for Stoudemire. He'll face Duncan and the Spurs for the first time since the 2005 Western Conference finals and could be in the starting lineup when the Suns try to avoid a third straight loss Wednesday. San Antonio (3-1) eliminated Phoenix (1-3) in five games in the playoffs two years ago in a series that showcased two of the league's top power forwards. Duncan averaged 27.4 points and 13.8 rebounds for the Spurs, who went on to capture their third NBA championship. Despite losing the series, Stoudemire made a lasting impression by averaging 37.0 points -- the highest- scoring average for a conference finals first-timer -- and nearly 10 rebounds a game. He topped 40 points twice against a San Antonio team that was considered to be one of the best defensive units in the league. Duncan was effusive in his praise for Stoudemire. "He's extended his game so much," Duncan said. "He was hitting 15-, 18-footers like it was nothing. And with his athleticism and his ability, just knowing that he's going to get even better, it's kind of scary." That series was the last time Stoudemire played before undergoing microfracture knee surgery prior to last season. He appeared in only three games last season in late March before shutting it down for the year and has come off the bench for the Suns this season, reaching double figures just once in four games. Despite his lack of production, Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni indicated Stoudemire might make his first start Wednesday in order to give him some extended minutes. Stoudemire has yet to log more than 25 minutes in a game. "It's something that we wrestle with every day," D'Antoni said. "Don't think that we don't wrestle with it as a staff and with the players. And it's something that we'll get to, as a matter of fact, we might get to it Wednesday. It's something that we want to do." D'Antoni claims that Phoenix's slow start is the product of a difficult early schedule and the team's need to work Stoudemire back into game shape. If Stoudemire is in the starting lineup, Kurt Thomas would be the odd man out.

Originally Posted by ShuHanGuanYu Dallas is in L.A. to face ClipperNation. Let's hope Maggette doesn't decide to suck tonight! I agree, losing to San Antonio and then being Dallas' first W quite possibly could be rock bottom, even though they are two great teams.

Originally Posted by Kobester888 Diaw has to be your guy's most disappointing player of the early part of the season. No assists in two games is unacceptable for a guy who was supposed to tear it up this year. Hope he does better because he is killing me in fantasy.