Mavericks-Suns Preview

Goran Dragic was asked why the Phoenix Suns have played better on the road than at home, and his scattered answer offered a number of possibilities.

After sweeping a three-game road trip, Phoenix returns home Tuesday night looking to end a three-game home losing streak against a Dallas Mavericks team still trying to adjust with Rajon Rondo on board.

The Suns (15-14) improved to 9-7 on the road with Sunday's 104-92 win over Washington after taking out Charlotte and New York. They're just 6-7 at home, though, and are the only team in the league with an overall record above .500 that owns a losing mark at home.

''Maybe we're just more focused (on the road),'' Dragic said. ''Maybe at home, we're thinking, 'Oh we're playing at home. We can beat anybody at home.' Maybe we are too relaxed.''

Whatever the reason, the Suns know they need to turn things around on their home floor - even though eight of their next 10 after this one are on the road. Coach Jeff Hornacek is hoping they can carry over the solid play from Sunday's victory, as the three-guard lineup of Dragic, Eric Bledsoe and Isaiah Thomas finished the contest in impressive fashion.

Bledsoe and Markieff Morris scored 17 points apiece while Dragic added 16, nine rebounds and three assists as Phoenix shot 51.3 percent.

''Maybe this is the game that helps us to get going because it was a full all-player, all-team effort,'' Hornacek said. ''This is the way we need to play.''

The addition of Thomas in the offseason posed questions for how Hornacek would find minutes for his guard-heavy roster, and he's often tinkering with the lineup and sticking with the hot hand.

Dragic is partial to the group that finished the game Sunday.

''Every time we play with three guards, we manage to close games," Dragic said.

Dragic had 28 points and a season-high 13 assists in the Suns' 118-106 road victory in the first meeting with Dallas on Dec. 6. Monta Ellis had 33 points in that contest but was held to 18 on 8-of-22 shooting on Monday as the Mavericks had their three-game winning streak snapped with a 105-102 home loss to Atlanta.

Dallas (20-9) set a season low for first-half points for the second straight contest and trailed by as many as 24 in the third quarter, but they outscored the Hawks 39-23 in the fourth to make it close.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 16 points and Rondo, playing in his second game since being acquired from Boston on Thursday, finished with 13 points and 11 assists.

"I think we're trying to figure each other out," said Tyson Chandler, who had 19 rebounds. "It's a new group out there. We're bringing Rondo in, but also we have a different second unit, trying to balance the lineups."

The Mavericks now look to bounce back on the road, where they've won six of seven. Dallas shot 43 percent in a win over San Antonio on Saturday and 43.3 percent against the Hawks, dropping to 4-6 when they shoot under 45 percent.

"We're just not playing very well," coach Rick Carlisle said. "We've got to play better, and we will play better. We're not a finished product here with this new alignment and we have work to do."

Dallas has won six of the last eight meetings in Phoenix. Ellis scored 24 points to help overcome 28 from Dragic in a 110-107 victory in the last matchup there Jan. 17.