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- Kirk Hinrich, who missed Chicago’s game Monday against Boston with a right hip strain, will start against the Suns. Though the season’s only seven games old, Hinrich already has dealth with thumb and groin injuries in addition to the hip he strained on Saturday against Minnesota.
- Phoenix continues to dig themselves large holes in games but Alvin Gentry said a change in the starting lineup isn’t in the cards. “You’ve got to be a little careful, all of a sudden changing your lineup,” Gentry said, “especially when you have nine new guys. It may eventually come to that but you don’t want all of a sudden to change your lineup and then have to change it again and again and again. We’re trying to find ways not to get off to a slow start without changing personnel.” Phoenix has trailed by10, 22 and 26 in its three previous games, posting a 1-2 mark.
- Chicago is opening its annual 12-game “circus” road trip, necessitated by the arrival of the Ringling Bros. Circus at the United Center.
– Jonathan Dalton
**It is only a 5-game “circus” road trip, spanning a 12-day period.