Preview,Phoenix-Boston

[Steve Huffman <stevhuff@eastky.net>]

Sorry to be late with this report.

Phoenix Suns (8-2) at Boston Celtics (7-7), 7 p.m

Friday, November 28th
                                          ---------------------

                  National Basketball Association
                  -------------------------------
                  Phoenix at Boston, 7 p.m. - W1-14s
                  Chicago at Indiana, 7:30 p.m. - W1-8s
                  LA Lakers at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m. - W2-20s
                  Milwaukee at Orlando, 7:30 p.m. - F1-24s
                  Cleveland at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m. - W1-4s
                  New York at Detroit, 8 p.m. - F4-6s, G5-17s
                  Toronto at Dallas, 8:30 p.m. - F1-10s
                  Golden State at Utah, 9 p.m. - Land lines
                  Minnesota at Denver, 9 p.m. - Land lines
                  Houston at Portland, 10 p.m. - W1-1s
                  Sacramento at Seattle, 10 p.m. - G3-21s
                  New Jersey vs. LA Clippers - at Anaheim, 10:30 p.m. -
F121s, W1-17s





                 These teams meet for the first time this year. They
split the two
            games  last  season,  with  the  Suns having won two of the
last three
            meetings. The Celtics did beat the Suns at home last January
by  seven
            points.

                 The Suns have won two in a row,  and  six  of  their
last  eight
            outings.  They  are  coming  off  a  3-1 homestand, with
wins over the
            Rockets, Bulls and Nets.  Phoenix has not ventured out of
the  desert
            often, but is 2-0 as a visitor.

                 The Celtics have split the past four games, but have
won  six  of
            their  last  eight  contests. They are 2-1 on their
homestand, but are
            coming off a 15-point drubbing at the hands of the  Lakers.
That  put
            Boston at 5-4 as the host.

STARTING LINEUPS


                   Phoenix                            Boston
 Forward     Manning                           McCarty
Forward      Mcdyess                            Walker
Center        Williams                            Knight
Guard         Chapman                           Billups
Guard         Kidd                                 Mercer




   Phoenix Suns (8-2) at Boston Celtics (7-7), 7 p.m.
          --------------------------------------------------

          1997-98 Head-to-head record - First meeting
          1996-97 Head-to-head record - Tied 1-1
          1995-96 Head-to-head record - Tied 1-1
          1994-95 Head-to-head record - Tied 1-1
          Overall Head-to-head record - Boston 52-34
          Home Record: Phoenix 6-2; Boston 5-4
          Away Record: Phoenix 2-0; Boston 2-3
          Record vs. Atlantic Division: Phoenix 1-1
          Record vs. Pacific Division: Boston 0-1
          Record vs. Eastern Conference: Phoenix 3-1
          Record vs. Western Conference: Boston 1-1

                            1996-97 Meetings
                            ----------------
                      01/05 - Boston, 109-102 (at Bos)
                      02/12 - Phoenix, 131-100 (at Pho)

          Note - Phoenix has won two of the last three meetings.

          Phoenix last five games
          -----------------------
 11/14 - W at  Portland, 140-139 4ot
1/16 - W vs. Houston, 96-94

 11/18 - L vs. Minnesota, 90-108
 11/20 - W vs. Chicago, 89-85
 11/26 - W vs. New Jersey, 111-99

Boston last five games
          -----------------------
- ----------------------
 11/18 - W at  Toronto, 122-109
 11/19 - L at  New Jersey, 100-108

 11/21 - W vs. New Jersey, 101-93
 11/23 - W vs. Detroit, 90-86
 11/26 - L vs. LA Lakers, 103-118