Who: Phoenix Suns (13-9) vs. Houston Rockets (14-5)

When: 6:00pm Arizona Time

Where: Toyota Center — Houston, Texas

Watch: Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports, NBATV

Both teams are coming off strong performances. The Suns just dominated the Lakers from start to finish, probably delivering their cleanest and most efficient game of the season (35 assists for only 11 turnovers with a 65.8 eFG%). Phoenix will try to beat the Texas squad for the first time since March 2024.

As for the Rockets, they fell to a very good Utah team before bouncing back by beating Sacramento. It’s also our chance to see our dear Kevin Durant again, since he missed our first matchup for personal reasons.

Jalen Green — OUT (Right Hamstring Strain)

Devin Booker — OUT (Groin Strain)

Isaiah Livers — QUESTIONABLE (Right Hip Strain)

Fred VanVleet — OUT (Torn ACL)

Dorian Finney-Smith — OUT (Ankle Sprain)

Tari Eason — OUT (Oblique Strain)

We get reunions with Kevin Durant, Josh Okogie, and Aaron Holiday. On the flip side, Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks return to their old home crowd. That alone makes the matchup worth clicking on. Prestige, reunions, revenge, this one has all the ingredients for a high-level game, almost a derby between two near-neighbor states.

And of course, we’re hoping to finally break that losing streak against them. The Suns lead the all-time series 118-116, but Houston has won the last 5 meetings. It’s a clash of styles I can’t wait to watch.

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It’s also the Suns’ first game without Booker this season.

Defensively, Phoenix will be fine, but I’m curious to see what happens on the other end: which role player steps up (I’m calling a statement game from Royce), and whether Collin Gillespie keeps riding this insane hot streak. As for Dillon Brooks taking 25 shots and picking up a technical? Vegas should put odds on that.

Plenty of reasons for Suns fans to tune in, even if the last one doesn’t exactly scream “dream scenario.”

Collin Gillespie is in the best stretch of his Suns career. Since mid-November, he’s turned into a real catalyst for Phoenix: stringing together strong games, hitting the 20-point mark, and knocking down threes at nearly 47%. What stands out isn’t just the numbers. It’s how he takes over in clutch moments. His game-winner against Minnesota made noise, and his monster outing vs. OKC proved he can carry the offense when needed.

With the team missing its franchise player, I’m hoping Gillespie brings energy, confidence, and real stability at point guard to help us keep up with this strong Rockets squad.

Houston has the second-best offense in the league this season, largely thanks to their range of profiles: Kevin Durant as a three-level scorer, Amen Thompson as a slashing creator, Alperen Sengun as a floor general, plus shooters all around. But even with all that, they aren’t some unstoppable efficiency machine: 21st in midrange accuracy and 19th at the rim. Their offense is talented and deadly from three (40%), but it relies heavily on offensive rebounding, where they lead the league.

NBAE via Getty Images

So the key is simple: either limit their threes and force them inside, or gamble and let them fire from deep (best percentage in the league, but they take the fewest threes) so we can load the paint and crash the boards. Phoenix has had three days to prep for this one. Time to put that to use.

It should be a tight game, a clash of contrasting styles and profiles. But I don’t see us holding on for 48 minutes against the Rockets’ talent and intensity. The game probably swings in the fourth, and we’ll run out of gas trying to match their pace.