NBA: Looking ahead

LAKERS AT PHOENIX Monday, 6 p.m. PST, Ch. 9 With Lakerdom out of its home trot after the home team’s marquee pratfall on Christmas, everyone will be waiting to see how the Lakers handle more challenges, and a schedule with 33 of their last 54 games on the road. The Suns, getting cricks in their neck from looking up at the taller Lakers, are 2-8 in their last 10 meetings, losing the first two this season by margins of 19 and 20 points. Nevertheless, the Suns, led by Steve Nash, have their own little resurgence and this marks the end of their brutal start, with 17 of their first 30 games on the road. The Suns play host to Boston on Thursday but after that play the Lakers once and are through with Boston, Cleveland and Orlando. What better way would there be to celebrate than by bagging an elephant?