Marion out again tonight
James Jones will start
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Mar 2, 2007 12:42 PM
Suns All-Star forward Shawn Marion is not expected to play tonight at home against Indiana because of the right hand he bruised in Tuesday's game at Indiana.
Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said he is planning to start James Jones in Marion's place. Leandro Barbosa started for Marion on Wednesday, the first game Marion had missed this season.
“I like him (Barbosa) as a backup point guard and that's the only way we could do it,” D'Antoni said. “Otherwise, he gets too tired.”
This will be the first time since November 2003 that Marion has missed consecutive games. He did not participate in Phoenix's morning shootaround today.
As expected, Boris Diaw will also remain out tonight because of ongoing back spasms.
This will be Jones' second start of the season. He started the Feb.14 loss at Seattle when Diaw, Steve Nash and Kurt Thomas were out.