Suns shift focus to visiting Lakers

(SportsNetwork.com) - The Phoenix Suns will continue the longest homestand in franchise history when they entertain the Los Angeles Lakers Monday night at US Airways Center.

The Suns kicked off an eight-game stay in the desert with two straight victories. They beat the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday, then bested the Minnesota Timberwolves, 110-99, on Friday.

Goran Dragic finished with 21 points and eight assists as the Suns cruised. Gerald Green scored 19 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the field, Eric Bledsoe chipped in 16 and Alex Len pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds for the Suns, who have won five straight home games.

"We tried to end this game a little sooner, not to be close until the end of the game," said Dragic. "It's a good win for us. I think we're finally playing better at home."

Markieff Morris added 13 points, followed by 11 from newly-acquired Brandan Wright.

The Suns shot 48-of-87 from the field (55.2 percent), while the Timberwolves were just 42-of-91 (46.2 percent).

Phoenix will welcome the Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Washington Wizards and Chicago Bulls on this residency.

The Lakers have lost four straight and haven't won since Jan. 9 at home versus the Orlando Magic. Los Angeles has also lost three in a row as the visitor.

On Friday, the Lakers fell in Salt Lake City to the Utah Jazz, 94-85.

Kobe Bryant, who posted a career-high 17 assists in Thursday's loss to Cleveland, was given the night off to rest. Nick Young paced Los Angeles in his absence with 23 points off the bench, including 13-for-13 from the foul line, and Jordan Hill had 16 points and 11 rebounds.

"We ended up with 21 [turnovers] and obviously they hit some big shots at the end and their defense got a little bit more aggressive in the last couple of minutes," Lakers coach Byron Scott said. "It just seemed like we kind of panicked and that was pretty much it."

The turnovers, which led to 17 Jazz points, only told part of the tale for the Lakers. They did shoot 42.9 percent from long range, but handed out just seven assists, which was 17 less than Utah.

Bryant is listed as doubtful for Monday's game.

The Lakers will visit the New Orleans Pelicans and San Antonio Spurs on this road trip.

The Suns have taken all three meetings this season and Phoenix hasn't swept a season series versus the Lakers since the 2004-05 season. The Suns have won seven in a row against the Lakers in Phoenix.