Suns trying to be first NBA team with 10 wins

HOUSTON - The Phoenix Suns will try to become the first NBA team with 10 wins tonight, when they pay a visit to the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center.

The Pacific Division-leading Suns improved to 9-2 this season with Sunday's 101-100 victory versus the Toronto Raptors at US Airways Center, as Steve Nash led the way with 23 points and converted a three-point play with 38.9 seconds left in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. Nash also had nine assists for the Suns, who have won 11 in a row against Toronto.

"A good win for us against a quality team," Suns head coach Alvin Gentry said. "They present so many problems for you. I thought after the first quarter we were going to have to score 120 points to win."

Amare Stoudemire poured in 30 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Channing Frye ended with 20 points and seven boards for Phoenix, which was coming off a 121-102 loss to the Lakers on Thursday.

The Rockets, meanwhile, have alternated wins and losses over their last seven games and are coming off Sunday's 101-91 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center. Aaron Brooks scored 10 of his 33 points in the third quarter and David Andersen added 19 points off the bench for Houston, which bounced back from a 103-102 overtime loss to the Lakers on November 4.

Carl Landry compiled 15 points and 10 boards in a winning cause.

"It's a great game for us," said Rockets coach Rick Adelman. "We kept our composure and got back in it. The third quarter was terrific and the entire second half was terrific."

Houston won two of three meetings with Phoenix a season ago, but the Suns are 10-6 in the previous 16 matchups between the teams. The Suns, though, have dropped two straight and three of four trips to the Toyota Center.