The Phoenix Suns are playing a home game.

Let that sink in a little. You read it right. The Suns will actually get to wear their home white uniforms when they host Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic at U.S. Airways Center in an 8:30 tip-off.

Alvin Gentry’s team has played 15 of their first 22 games at home, and no team in the entire league has played fewer home games than the Suns’ seven. In fact, the Suns’ longest “homestand” of the season so far has been two games.

Phoenix is reeling, having lost 4 of their last 5 games, including a tough 102-101 loss in Dallas on Tuesday night. The Suns are still 15-7, which is tied for 3rd place in the Western Conference.

Orlando comes into tonight’s game at 17-5, third best record in the league, even after a 120-111 loss in Utah to the Jazz on Thursday night. Vince Carter led the Magic with 34 points, while Dwight Howard added 18 points and 10 rebounds in the loss, which was only their second loss to a Western Conference team this season.

Here are tonight’s expected starting lineups…

Phoenix Suns (15-7)


F – 1 Amare Stoudemire – 6-10 – Cyp.Creek HS
F – 33 Grant Hill – 6-8 – Duke
C – 8 Channing Frye – 6-11 – Arizona
G – 23 Jason Richardson – 6-6 – Michigan State
G – 13 Steve Nash – 6-3 – Santa Clara

Orlando Magic (17-5)


F – 20 Mickael Pietrus – 6-6 – France
F – 9 Rashard Lewis – 6-10 – Elsik HS
C – 12 Dwight Howard – 6-11 – SW Christian Academy
G – 15 Vince Carter – 6-6 – North Carolina
G – 44 Jason Williams – 6-1 – Florida

By the Numbers

17
The number of games Orlando’s Dwight Howard has grabbed 10 or more rebounds in a game this season.

13
The number of games any player on the Suns has grabbed 10 or more rebounds in a game this season. (Stoudemire 5, Hill 4, Richardson 2, Frye 2)

9-2
The Magic’s record this season with the starting lineup that is expected to start tonight.

15-5
The Suns’ all-time record against Orlando in Phoenix.

17
The number of consecutive games the Suns scored 100 or more points to begin the season.

3
The number of times the Suns have been held under 100 points in their last 5 games.

98.6
The Suns scoring average in their last 5 games, 11 points under their season average.

118.0
The Suns scoring average at U.S. Airways Center this year.

7-0
The Suns home record this season, making them the only undefeated home team in the NBA.

6
The number of minutes left in the first half of Orlando’s loss to Utah when forward Rashard Lewis told head coach Stan Van Gundy that he didn’t want to go back into the game.

7
The number of games the Suns have played at home this season, the lowest number in the NBA.

16
The number of home games that the World Champion Lakers have played this season…just sayin’.