Running Suns take to the road again

PHOENIX - At 9-2 the Phoenix Suns are one of the surprise teams in the league. Unfortunately for their fans, the Suns have spent the majority of the season playing on the road.

The Suns left for Houston Monday for a three day, two game road trip that starts with a Tuesday game against the Rockets and ends Thursday night in New Orleans.

With a 5-2 record away from the US Airways Center, it's understandable that the Suns are confident they can get the job done. But going into Houston and stealing a game from the surprising Rockets is no easy task.

"Without [Tracy] McGrady and Yao [Ming] they seem to not miss a beat," point guard Steve Nash said of the 6-4 Rockets. "They're a very good team and we're going to have our hands full with them."

When the Suns do take the court Tuesday they will do so for what will be their league-high 8th road game. Doing so against a team whose strength is on the perimeter provides an interesting test for the Run and Gun Suns.

"They just play so doggone hard" head coach Alvin Gentry said. "They're like we are. They have good chemistry, they play together well.

"They're a tough team."

So before the Suns get a chance to take on a Hornets team that they beat one week earlier 124-104, they must get past a team that provides an interesting matchup for the Suns.

Center Channing Frye said the Rockets, who carried similar preseason doubts as the Suns, will provide a good test.

"For us it's just another game for us to continue to try to get better and for us to play our pace of game," he said.

Suns Spots

• The Suns this year are a perfect 8-0 when not playing the second game of a back-to-back set.

• Upon taking the court Tuesday the Suns will have spent 13 of the season's 22 days on the road.

• The Suns have had success on the road, but are tied with the Portland Trail Blazers for most road wins in the league, with five. That number is equal or more than the the number of total wins held by 18 teams.

• The Suns had rebounding questions coming into the season, but have won the rebounding battle in seven of 11 games and are outrebounding their opponents 480-452.

Sports 620 KTAR's Johnny Villarreal contributed to this report