Despite multiple attempts at a comeback, the Suns were unable to overcome a 20-point deficit, resulting in the end of their nine-game home winning streak with a 118-109 loss to the Houston Rockets.
The Suns’ efforts down the stretch were hampered by the absences of Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic. Beal was ejected in the 3rd quarter following an altercation with Jalen Green, while Nurkic was sidelined in the 2nd half due to neck spasms.
Nonetheless, these setbacks might not have been as critical if not for Phoenix’s poor performance in the 1st quarter. The team’s early turnovers and numerous missed three-pointers left them trailing by 17 points at the start of the 2nd quarter.
Grayson Allen began with an 0-5 record from the three-point line, and Royce O’Neale started 0-3. Devin Booker also contributed to the team’s struggles, turning over the ball three times in the first half.
The Suns managed to cut the lead to just one point following a 7-0 run around the halfway mark of the 4th quarter. However, the Rockets quickly responded with five points of their own, dashing any hopes of a Suns comeback.
This would ultimately be the last time the Suns came close to erasing the large deficit.
Jalen Green led the Rockets in scoring with 34 points, closely followed by Fred VanVleet, who matched Green’s six three-pointers. VanVleet was instrumental in securing the Rockets’ early lead, scoring 11 points in the 1st quarter. Each player in the Rockets’ starting lineup finished with 10+ points.
Adding to the Suns’ woes, Devin Booker was forced to head to the locker room with less than two minutes remaining after injuring himself by stepping on Royce O’Neale’s ankle. He remained down for a moment before limping off the court.
Ultimately, the difference in three-point shooting was a deciding factor in the Suns’ loss. The Rockets made 16 three-pointers, while Phoenix managed only 9 out of 28 attempts from beyond the arc.
Next up for the Suns is a meeting with the Oklahoma City Thunder tomorrow at 7:30 PM, once again at Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix.
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