Phoenix, AZ (My Sportsbook) - Two Western Conference teams each in search of their third win square off tonight when the
Phoenix Suns welcome the Portland Trail Blazers to America West Arena.
Portland snapped a three-game slide with a 94-88 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night. The injury bug has taken a big bite out of the Trail Blazers so far this season, but their deep bench has kept the team afloat.
Rasheed Wallace scored 18 points, and Scottie Pippen and Antonio Daniels stepped in with 16 points apiece as the Blazers overcame a rash injuries to emerge victorious.
Portland was hurt just 2 minutes into the contest, when Derek Anderson hit the floor hard resulting in a concussion. Bonzi Wells was a last-minute scratch with a sore right foot, and center Arvydas Sabonis sat out with a strained right hamstring.
Anderson did not make the trip to Phoenix. Wells is expected to play tonight, and Sabonis is questionable.
"The guys who came off the bench did an excellent job," Portland coach Maurice Cheeks said. "Missing Bonzi, D.A. and Arvydas doesn't matter. It doesn't matter to me who's on the court as long as the guys that are out there play hard."
Phoenix snapped a two-game skid of its own with a 93-88 home win over the Atlanta Hawks. Penny Hardaway scored 16 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter to help the Suns overcome a 14-point deficit.
"I shot a couple of balls in the third quarter that felt good," Hardaway said. "So I told myself, 'Keep shooting,' and it came around for me."
Phoenix has lost six of its last nine at Portland but leads the all-time overall series 87-78.