Shaq Returns

Shaq returns to the desert as Cavs visit Suns

(Sports Network) - Storylines abound when the Cleveland Cavaliers arrive in the desert to take on the Phoenix Suns tonight.

Cavs center Shaquille O'Neal will be returning to the Valley of the Sun for the first time since Phoenix dealt him to Cleveland last summer and his old mates will be aiming to keep the NBA's only perfect homecourt record by stopping Shaq, LeBron James and Company.

It seems clear that O'Neal, the 15-time All-Star that won three championships with the Los Angeles Lakers and another with Miami, is nearing the end of his superlative career. His stint in Phoenix was average at best, while his impact in Cleveland has been negligible.

The Suns, who failed to reach the postseason in 2009 with Shaq, are now among the Western Conference's elite again without him, especially when playing on their home floor.

Phoenix improved to 10-0 as the host on Saturday when Amare Stoudemire recorded 23 points and 14 rebounds, and Jason Richardson added 22 points, as the Suns drubbed Washington, 121-95.

Steve Nash chipped in 15 points, 15 assists and seven boards for the Suns, who dropped a 107-102 decision at Portland on Thursday. Channing Frye scored 14 points, as Phoenix shot 51.6 percent from the field and held Washington to a 36.4 percent shooting effort.

"Taking care of home court advantage is our main priority and so far here this season we've been doing that," Stoudemire said. "I think we did a phenomenal job of bouncing back and learned from our mistakes from the night before and got the win."

The Cavs, meanwhile, have taken a step back with O'Neal, although Mike Brown's club remains among the NBA's elite. Through 28 games last season, Cleveland was 24-4 and beating opponents by an average of 13.0 points. This year the Cavs are 20-8 and besting the opposition by only 5.0 points per game.

Most recently, Cleveland opened a four-game road trip in losing fashion on Sunday when Tim Thomas started in place of an injured Dirk Nowitzki and scored 22 points to lead Dallas in a 102-95 victory over the Cavaliers.

James, playing in his 500th career regular season game, scored 25 for the Cavaliers, who had a five-game winning streak snapped. Anderson Varejao had 13 points and Anthony Parker 12 for the Cavs, while O'Neal contributed just five points and eight boards.

"That's why they're one of the best teams in the West, one of the best teams in the league," James said regarding the Mavs missing Nowitzki. "They've got guys even without Dirk that are All Stars on their team. Tim Thomas played great. Guys stepped up."

Cleveland, which is 9-6 on the road, will also face Sacramento before concluding its swing on Christmas Day with a mammoth matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Cavs have won three straight over Phoenix, including a 107-90 rout in Cleveland earlier this month.