Preview: Suns Face Trail Blazers in Road Test

The Phoenix Suns (14-12) are embarking on part one of a two-leg road trip tonight, facing off against the Portland Trail Blazers (6-19).

This is the second time the two teams have faced off - Phoenix won the first matchup 120-107 on Nov. 21 in NBA in-season tournament group play.

This also marks the return of Jusuf Nurkic and Nassir Little to Portland after being traded to Phoenix late in the offseason.

Three storylines/things to watch for tonight:

Portland Trending in Wrong Direction

Portland comes into the game against Phoenix riding a seven-game losing streak.

The Blazers have dropped two games apiece to the Golden State Warriors, Utah Jazz, and Dallas Mavericks in this stretch, while also falling in a singular game to the Los Angeles Clippers.

While Portland is riding a losing streak and isn't a good team by any fragment of the imagination, they are certainly more competitive than many other "bad" teams, such as the Detroit Pistons.

The Trail Blazers are just 2-9 at home on the season and are outscored by seven points per game, but have proven veteran talent such as Jerami Grant and Malcolm Brogdon to act as steadying presences in the heat of battle.

Suns star Devin Booker alluded to the notion that every player in the NBA is there for a reason ,and no team or opposing player should be taken lightly.

Suns Look to Climb Standings Without Beal

The Suns currently sit at 10th in the West despite a 14-12 record.

The Suns still possess a prime opportunity to climb the standings in the next two-plus weeks of star Bradley Beal's absence behind a relatively favorable schedule and only trailing the four-seed Sacramento Kings by 2.5 games.

A Suns win tonight puts them in the nine-spot, jumping the Houston Rockets, and also has them knocking on the door of the top-six in the conference once again.

Phoenix closes out the next week with two more strong opportunities to climb the standings- games against the Kings and Dallas Mavericks- two teams currently ahead of them in the standings.

Player to Watch: Anfernee Simons

Anfernee Simons is Portland's best player.

The sixth-year guard is making his seventh appearance back from injury after going down in the season opener.

Simons has averaged 27 PPG since the return from injury, and is also averaging 5.7 APG in his seven appearances.

Simons brings a combination of game-breaking athleticism, tough shot-making and above average playmaking efforts to the table that has made him a potential all-star level player after years of being a specialist.

Simons is certainly the one player that could put Portland in a position to steal a win tonight- and he should be the focus of the Suns' defensive efforts.

Opening tip will be shortly after 8 PM Arizona time.