(My Sportsbook) - Coming off an impressive win over the rival
Los Angeles Lakers, the
Phoenix Suns will try to stifle another elite team in the NBA Tuesday when they kick off a four-game road trip against the
Orlando Magic.
The Suns have won two in a row and six of their last eight games, including Sunday's 118-111 triumph versus the Lakers in the desert despite Kobe Bryant's 49 points. Shaquille O'Neal netted 33 points just two days after a 45-point performance versus Toronto and Matt Barnes added 26 points, 10 boards and seven assists in the win.
Leandro Barbosa finished with 22 points and Grant Hill added 17 for the Suns, who played without point guard Steve Nash (ankle) for the third straight game. Nash, a two-time MVP, is probable for Tuesday's game in Orlando.
Phoenix, which is currently 1 1/2 games off the eighth and final playoff berth in the West, will also visit the Heat, Rockets and Spurs on the road swing and is 15-14 as the visitor this season.
The Southeast Division-leading Magic have alternated wins and losses over their previous five games and have won four of the last six. In a 106-100 victory at Philadelphia on Saturday at the Wachovia Center, Courtney Lee scored 13 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, while Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu each netted 23 points in a winning cause.
Dwight Howard was held to 12 points and eight rebounds before fouling out late in the game. Howard will bang heads with O'Neal, a former Orlando top pick, for the first time this season.
Orlando, which is third in the Eastern Conference, will also host New Jersey on the brief homestand and is 22-7 at Amway Arena this season.
Phoenix topped the Magic, 113-112, at home on December 12 this season and has won six straight, eight of nine and 11 of the past 13 meetings. The Suns are unbeaten in their last two trips to Orlando.