After a slow start, the Phoenix Suns are playing their best basketball of the young season.

They'll try to go over the .500 mark for the first time when they visit the Rose Garden to meet Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday.

Phoenix (6-6) lost five of its first six games in 2006-07, but will look to win its fourth straight and second in a row on the road.

``Hopefully there is no looking back,'' guard and reigning two-time MVP Steve Nash said. ``We feel like this was kind of a goal of ours, to get even and get our head above water and not look back.''

The Suns' improved defense has paced the recent turnaround that has seen them go 5-1 since the poor start. Phoenix was allowing 111.6 points in their first six games, but is giving up just 97.8 points in its last six games.

``Most importantly, we're playing harder and we're working on it,'' Nash said. ``We're making improvements.''

Behind 26 points and 13 assists from Nash and Amare Stoudemire's 25 points, 10 rebounds and seven blocks, the Suns posted a 99-93 win over the New Jersey Nets on Friday. Phoenix led by as many as 22 points, but had to hold off a late rally to win for the fourth straight time at home.

Stoudemire, who is making strides since coming back from microfracture surgery on his left knee that forced him to miss all but three games last season, bounced back nicely after being held scoreless while suffering from a cold in a 93-83 win over the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets on Wednesday.

``I just played off my teammates,'' said the five-year veteran, who's averaging 14.0 points and 6.8 rebounds. ``Whatever the offense brought the defense on my side, I just took what was there.''

The Suns may be without guard Leandro Barbosa for a second straight game with a sprained left ankle. He's second on the team in scoring at 18.5 points per game. Shawn Marion leads Phoenix at 18.8 ppg.

Portland (6-8) failed to reach the .500 mark and scored a season low in a 105-85 loss to Sacramento on Saturday.

The Trail Blazers were outscored 31-17 in the second quarter and trailed by 22 at the half. Zach Randolph had 24 and forward Ime Udoka had 13 points in the loss.

``What is there to talk about? There was no defense,'' Portland coach Nate McMillan said. ``This entire month we have been coming out with slow starts and coming in defensively not ready to play.''

Opponents have shot better than 50 percent in three of the last five games against the Trail Blazers, who started the season 4-2.

``We need to focus on scrapping from the get go,'' Randolph said. ``If we don't come out with good defensive stops, good teams like the Kings will come out on top.''

The inconsistent Trail Blazers have alternated wins and losses in their last four games after losing four straight. They should be happy to return home - Portland is 2-6 away from the Rose Garden.

The Suns went 3-1 against the Trail Blazers last season and have won six of the last seven meetings.