After a significant letdown in the eyes of many versus the Los Angeles Lakers, the Phoenix Suns were able to rebound against the Toronto Raptors 101-100.  In the Lakers game, Amare Stoudemire had one of the worst 1st quarters I have ever witnessed from one player. Amare got caught up in a rivalry with Andrew Bynum which amounted to the Suns being down 7 and Amare shooting 2-11 in the quarter. However, Amare rebounded quite amicably against the Raptors putting up 30 points for the first time since the fateful Los Angeles Clippers game last season that resulted in a detached retina. The Lakers game was simply a bad game for the Suns team, who had played 7 games in the previous 10 nights while the Lakers had been rested for 3 days. The Lakers also have been subsequently walloped by the Denver Nuggets and the Suns opponent tonight the Houston Rockets.

The Suns go into tonight’s game with a 1.5 game lead on the Lakers and are looking to be the first team in the NBA to 10 wins this season. Defeating the surprising Houston Rockers however will be no easy task. The Rockets are 6-4 on the season and are coming off of a 101-91 victory in the Staples center over the defending NBA champion Lakers. The Rockets have also been on a torrid scoring pace since their season opening defeat to the Portland Trailblazers. The Rockets have averaged 105.7 ppg in that stretch led by a balanced scoring attack with Trevor Ariza and Aaron Brooks scoring 18.4 and 18.3 ppg respectively. It will be up to Steve Nash to try and control the penetration ability of the fleet-footed Aaron Brooks. Brooks scored 30 points in their victory over the Suns last season and only 9 in their loss to the Suns.

After visting Houston tonight at 8:30 Eastern Time, 6:30 Arizona Time, the Suns head over to Louisiana to face the New Orleans Hornets on Thursday night. They may be without Chris Paul due to an ankle sprain, thus making the task considerably less difficult.  The Suns then wrap up the week on Sunday at home versus the Detroit Pistons.

Injury Update: Suns Head Coach Alvin Gentry said Robin Lopez would be “ready to do a few things” when the team returns from this road trip. Gentry does not expect him back before December because he will still need to get in basketball shape.“We’re not going to rush him back,” Gentry said. “We’re going to make sure that he’s healthy and ready to go.” Despite having Channing Frye, having a legitimate big man to play defense against the Dwight Howards and Andrew Bynums of the world will be just another tool in the Suns arsenal as the season progresses.