Phoenix Suns Take a Beating from Orlando Magic

Well, that Florida trip didn't go so well for the Phoenix Suns, did it? Less than a week after knocking off the league's best team, the Los Angeles Lakers, on the road, the Suns were roughed up pretty bad by the Sunshine State's two franchises. On Wednesday, the Miami Heat...

By Jay Bennett

November 19, 2010

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Well, that Florida trip didn't go so well for the Phoenix Suns, did it? Less than a week after knocking off the league's best team, the Los Angeles Lakers, on the road, the Suns were roughed up pretty bad by the Sunshine State's two franchises. On Wednesday, the Miami Heat beat 'em 123-96, and on Thursday night, it was the Orlando Magic who put a hurt on the Suns, winning 105-89.

With Steve Nash unable to play because of a groin injury, the Magic had little problem handling the Suns, as all five of the Magic's starters scored in double-figures. By halftime, they were up by 32 points and pretty much coasted through the second half against a mix-and-match Suns squad that saw bench-warmers like Earl Barron, Earl Clark, and Garret Siler log some significant playing time.

Former Magic player Grant Hill (booed during much of the game by the Amway Arena crowd) led the Suns in scoring with 21 points. Starting in place of Nash was Goran Dragic, who scored 10 points and dished out four assists. Hedo Turkoglu, signed in the offseason to offset the loss of Amar'e Stoudemire, was a non-factor in the game, even though he played 28 minutes. Turkoglu was 0-for-8 from the floor and pulled down just four rebounds. He finished with two points.

The Suns now sit at 6-6 after the back-to-back Florida losses and will stay on the road for two more games -- Saturday at Charlotte and Monday at Houston -- before returning home to play the Chicago Bulls on the night before Thanksgiving.

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