The Western Conference's second-place team, the Phoenix Suns, will open a five-game road swing Monday night when they play the Eastern Conference's third-place Milwaukee Bucks.

Phoenix comes in with the NBA's second-best overall record and wins in 11 of its past 13 games, though the Suns had a four-game winning streak snapped Saturday in a 111-85 loss to San Antonio. The 26-point blowout marks Phoenix's worst loss of the season.

"I hate the fact that we lost," Suns coach Monty Williams said in his postgame press conference. "But I'm excited because it proves that when we play a certain way, in reference to defending well, sharing the ball and playing with a great deal of force; i.e, competing, we're a pretty good team."