Suns Figure to Offer a Tougher Test

Consecutive victories over the Orlando Magic, Seattle SuperSonics and Utah Jazz helped to brighten the Clippers’ mood, but they said things could change quickly tonight against the Phoenix Suns.

The first-place Suns are 2 1/2 games ahead of the Clippers in the Pacific Division, lead the NBA in scoring and assists and have won nine of 12.

“It’s a huge game,” Clipper Coach Mike Dunleavy said after practice Tuesday at the Spectrum health club in El Segundo. “It’s the biggest type of game you can play because it’s in your division against a team you’re trailing.”

Phoenix point guard Steve Nash -- last season’s most valuable player -- is having another outstanding season, averaging 19.1 points and a league-leading 11.3 assists. Forward Shawn Marion averages a team-high 20.9 points and is third in the league in rebounding at 12 a game.

Nash’s performance is considered among the main reasons the Suns are in contention for a high seeding in the Western Conference playoffs despite the loss of All-Star forward-center Amare Stoudemire, who has been out all season because of a knee injury. Stoudemire could return by the All-Star break.

Marion scored 20 points but had only five rebounds Dec. 10 in the Clippers’ 101-91 victory at Staples Center. Although Nash was effective, scoring 16 points with 11 assists, the Clippers limited the Suns to 11 points on fastbreaks.

“Nash is an orchestrator,” Dunleavy said. “You’ve got to get him under control, you’ve got to do a good job of not letting him get the easy baskets in the open court and long, easy plays.”

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Point guard Sam Cassell sat out practice because of a sore back and was scheduled to undergo a precautionary MRI exam, a Clipper spokesman said.

Cassell, 36, played more than 43 minutes and scored 25 points with eight assists in Monday’s 102-93 victory in overtime against Utah. Cassell is averaging 16.7 points and a team-leading 6.7 assists.

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Backup center Zeljko Rebraca, sidelined since late November after undergoing a procedure to correct an irregular heartbeat, continued to participate in practice and might be activated next week, Dunleavy said.

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TONIGHT

vs. Phoenix, 7:30, FSN West

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- 1150.

Records -- Clippers 20-14, Suns 24-13.

Record vs. Suns -- 1-0.

Update -- The Clippers lead the NBA in free-throw percentage at 80.1% and the Suns are third at 79.1%.