COMING ATTRACTIONS

Assuming anyone ever beats Phoenix again, it has a tough week with back-to-back road games and home games against the Spurs and Jazz. Meanwhile, Dallas has to get over the heartbreak of seeing its latest winning streak end at a mere eight, with four of its next five at home.

Between them, Phoenix and Dallas have lost three games since Christmas -- including the Suns’ one-point loss in Dallas -- dismaying the rest of the West.

Lakers Coach Phil Jackson has all but conceded the Pacific Division. The Spurs, traditional stretch runners, are on a 56-win pace but have spent the last month pondering a trade to help them close the gap.

The Suns are so good, they aren’t even superstitious. With everyone growing beards until they lost, Steve Nash decided his was too scratchy, shaved it off and made 11 of 13 shots as they bombed the Wizards, 127-105, in Washington.

--MARK HEISLER