Raptors, Suns tussle in Phoenix

(SportsNetwork.com) - For the first time in a long time, the Toronto Raptors don't own sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference, but they'll try to reclaim it Sunday night when they visit the Phoenix Suns.

Thanks to a two-game losing streak, coupled with outstanding play from the Atlanta Hawks, the Raptors aren't in first. They've dropped two straight for the second time this season and first time since late November.

When the Hawks bested the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday, they opened a one-game lead atop the Eastern Conference standings.

After an overtime loss to the Trail Blazers on Tuesday, the Raptors were rolled by the Golden State Warriors, 126-105, on Friday. The 126 points allowed were the most by Toronto this season in a non-overtime game.

Toronto trailed by as many as 23 in the second half, but pulled within 110-101 after Lou Williams knocked down a pair of jumpers with five minutes remaining.

Golden State, though, answered with 14 straight points to put the game away.

Greivis Vasquez supplied 25 points, seven assists and five boards off the bench, Kyle Lowry provided 22 points, eight assists and five rebounds and Amir Johnson recorded 12 points and 10 boards for the Raptors, who have dropped three of their last five games.

"They shot the ball extremely well," said Lowry. "Their small ball really got to us tonight."

Sunday's game ends a six-game road trip for the Raptors, who will try to even their record on this sojourn. They will play six straight in Toronto upon their return and should get All-Star DeMar DeRozan back soon after a groin injury.

The Suns snapped a two-game slide with a 16-point home victory Friday night over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Markieff Morris and Gerald Green both scored 21 points and the Suns overcame a halftime deficit to rally past the 76ers, 112-96.

Eric Bledsoe tallied 17 points and eight assists and Goran Dragic had 10 points and a season-high 10 boards for Phoenix, which returned home following a four-game road trip that ended with a 137-134 overtime loss in Oklahoma City on New Year's Eve.

The Suns have swept the season series with Philly each of the past two seasons, winning the four games by a combined 67 points.

Late in the fourth quarter, with the game well in hand, the Suns became the first team in NBA history to play a pair of brothers on the court at the same time, as Zoran Dragic joined his brother Goran in a lineup that also included the Morris twins, Markieff and Marcus.

"It feels awesome to make NBA history with two sets of brothers on the same team playing together, said Goran Dragic. "I'm just happy that he got an opportunity to play well in those two minutes."

The Raptors beat the Suns in Toronto this season to snap a two-game series losing streak. The Suns are 16-4 in their last 20 versus the Raptors, including an 8-2 mark in Phoenix.