The Phoenix Suns (11-6) welcomed the Houston Rockets (10-4) on Monday night at the Mortgage Matchup Center.
The Rockets entered the game after a three-point loss to the Denver Nuggets, but had won five straight prior to that, while the Suns had won eight of their last nine games, while having a three-game winning streak.
While the main talking point was centered around Rockets forward Kevin Durant and his return to Phoenix, Durant would not play due to family issues.
Durant had averaged 24.6 points per game, leading the team in that department.
The Rockets were also without point guard Fred VanVleet (torn ACL) and had center Steven Adams (ankle) on Game-Time Decision, who had been averaging 9.4 rebounds per game.
As for Phoenix, they had some big names out as well.
Jalen Green (hamstring) and Grayson Allen (quadriceps) were still out; the Suns were dealt more blows as Ryan Dunn (wrist) and center Mark Williams (rest) were also out for the game.
Allen’s injury was surprising, as Ott had said Allen as day-to-day in last Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks.
“It’s just the swelling,” Ott said regarding Allen’s injury. “That’s it. Seems to take more and more steps, but we’re going to be smart with this one.”
Williams had been a big name since arriving in Phoenix during the offseason, averaged 8.4 RPG; leading the team in that department.
Ott spoke about Williams not playing due to back-to-back games with little recovery in between.
“Now we’re having more discussions,” Ott told reporters before the game. “The longer he can sustain feeling good. It’s just that extra time to go from 24 hours to 72 hours is a big deal. I do think its heading in the right direction.”
This could create a massive problem at the center position, as Houston’s main center was having a dream start.
Alperen Sengun was averaging a double-double, with 22.7 PPG and 10 RPG, alongside having 7.3 assists per game.
“You could see his growth over the last four years,” Ott said regarding Sengun. “He continues to get better, it is going to be a challenge, it is going to be a group effort. He’s not just in the post anymore, he’s on the perimeter and it’s definitely different.”
The Suns still had Dillon Brooks, who averaged 21.4 PPG, going up against his former team after he was involved in the package that saw Durant go to Houston.
“He’s an incredible worker,” Ott said regarding Brooks. “We could see that from day one. He’s been in big moments; he’s been in the playoffs; he’s been on really, really good teams. He’s provided an offensive spark for us at times. He’s never one to shy away from any type of competition.”
Phoenix also had star Devin Booker, who averaged 26.9 PPG and 7.1 APG.
This game would likely be decided by bench players, as both teams had some good role players.
For the Rockets, they had center Clint Capela and Tari Eason, both being solid in the rebound department, while Phoenix had Collin Gillespie, who’d really broken entering his third season, averaging the most points, assists, and rebounds of his career so far.
Before the game, Adams was given the green light to play against Phoenix.
After the first quarter, Houston led 30-23.
Booker had started off well, hitting two from beyond the arc, starting off with nine points.
On the other hand, Brooks had struggled, shooting 1-for-6, with four three- point misses and two personal fouls.
“I need to hit more threes,” Brooks said.
As for the Rockets, it was role player Aaron Holiday leading the way with nine points, going 3-for-4 when shooting for three.
Midway through the second quarter, Brooks committed a foul on Adams, and the referees went to review it to see if it were a flagrant foul.
The second the foul was shown on the big screen for the fans; they booed, deeming it a flop.
“I’ve never seen so many flops being rewarded on the other side,” Brooks said. “Honestly, it was like I was in a FIBA game, when you just get rewarded for flopping. That killed every single run we had.”
While the foul stood, no flagrant foul was given to Brooks, as the refs deemed there was no unnecessary contact.
After the first half, Houston led, 59-50.
Booker was shut down, not scoring at all, but Brooks bounced back, scoring 12 points in the second quarter.
Sengun struggled to find rebounds, only having 1 but was effective when shooting, going 4-for-5 for 10 points.
Entering the fourth quarter, it was 84-75 in favor of Houston.
The Suns had shot themselves in the foot multiple times, and while Houston capitalized a few times, they weren’t able to run away with the game.
Brooks had 22 points, but five personal fouls, and if he were to pick up his sixth, he’d be fouled out and ineligible to play for the rest of the game.
“We talked about it before the season began,” Ott said regarding Brook’s foul trouble. “Just the number of times he’s fouled out in the game when he’s had two versus when he’s had three in the second quarter. I talk to him, I trust him.”
As for the Rockets, Sengun, Thompson, and Jabari Smith Jr. All had 15+ points, with Sengun being constantly double teamed to prevent shots and quick passes.
As for rebounds, Nick Richards of the Suns led the charge, grabbing 10 entering the fourth.
Early in the fourth though, the Rockets did their best to seal the game, taking a 14-point lead.
With six minutes left, the Rockets still held a 14-point lead, and Phoenix needed to mount a run to try and erase the deficit.
In the end, Phoenix couldn’t figure it out, as Houston put the nail in the coffin, winning 114-92.
The Rockets had 18 fast break points compared to Phoenix’s four, and 54 points in the paint while the Suns had 30.
“We got some learning to do,” Brooks said. “Crucial turnovers, it’s killing ourselves. Couldn’t be physical, and the Rockets were physical. Gotta fix that, somehow, someway.”
The biggest problem though was distribution, as the Suns only had 11 assists all game, while the Rockets had 26 assists.
“11 assists isn’t a great number,” Ott said. “And then you look down and you see 20 turnovers. Some of it was them, some of it was us. Just could never get through it.”
Brooks ended the game with 29 points, while Booker had a quiet game after the first quarter, only scoring 18 points.
As for the Rockets, Thompson led the way with 28 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds.
“Thompson’s amazing,” Ott said. “His ability to get in the paint at will. He is one in one in the league.”
Sengun also had quite a game, with 18 points and only five rebounds.
“He’s a great player,” Brooks said. “Can’t let him get to his right hand. I mean, the growth has been tremendous and a great player when I was there, and now as a two-way player.”
The Suns drop to 11-7 while the Rockets rise to 11-4.
“We’ll bounce back,” Brooks said. “We play the cup game in a couple of days. We’ll look at the film and figure out different matchups and different ways of functions in these types of games.”
The Suns take on the Kings at Golden 1 Center on Wednesday.