Wolves-Suns preview

Last update: November 26, 2008 - 1:06 AM

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7 P.M. VS. PHOENIX • TARGET CENTER • FSN, 106.1-FM

Preview: The Suns, after Tuesday's one-point victory over 1-13 Oklahoma City, is 10-5 under new coach Terry Porter and were 8-0 in games when they scored 100 or more points. ... Porter is 6-0 against teams for which he has either played or coached; he played for the Wolves in the mid-1990s. ... With big Shaquille O'Neal more fully integrated now under Porter's coaching, the Suns ranked fourth in the league in allowing points in the paint (33.9 a game) after ranking 28th last season and 23rd in 2006-2007. Wolves forward Al Jefferson's monstrous games in the paint against the Suns last season might have convinced them they needed to acquire O'Neal last winter. ... The Suns are 3-1 in the second half of back-to-back games this season. ... The teams split last year's four-game season series.

Players to watch: Forward Amare Stoudemire, who has flourished at power forward since O'Neal was acquired last season, scored 20 or more points in nine of the team's first 14 games and is on pace to shoot the most free throws in team history. ... Suns point guard Steve Nash is the only NBA player in the top 25 in field-goal percentage, three-point percentage and free-throw percentage. ... O'Neal has posted double-digit rebounds five times.

Numbers: Jefferson led the Wolves in scoring in all four games against Phoenix, averaging 30.5 points and 15.2 rebounds. Included was a 39-point, 15-rebound game in a 117-107 victory at Target Center last January.

Injuries: Wolves guard Rashad McCants (back) and Kevin Ollie (calf) each practiced a little on Tuesday and are considered questionable. Suns guard Alando Tucker (knee surgery) is out.

JERRY ZGODA

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