The Phoenix Suns (34-24, 5th in Western Conference) host the Houston Rockets (25-33, 12th in Western Conference) tonight, looking to avenge last week’s loss in Houston. The Suns have not played since Sunday afternoon, when they defeated the Lakers 123-113.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Bradley Beal (hamstring) and Eric Gordon (groin) are questionable tonight for the Suns, while Jusuf Nurkić (ankle) is probable but “he’s good to go,” coach Frank Vogel said yesterday. Jalen Green (illness) is questionable for Houston.
The Rockets won last Friday’s contest between the two teams 114-110, despite the Suns holding a 16-point first quarter lead. Bol Bol broke out in this game for Phoenix despite the loss, totaling a season-high 25 points and 14 rebounds.
“(That was) definitely a game that we felt like the way we jumped out on them early in particular, we felt like we let get away,” Vogel said after practice yesterday. “Guys will be motivated to get it back, but also continue to take care of home court.”
The Suns, who have gone 1-2 since the All-Star break, have won eight straight games at home and also host the Rockets Saturday night in a back-to-back series.
Yesterday, superstar forward Kevin Durant explained what has changed for Phoenix at home, as the Suns started the year 11-11 at Footprint Center before this win streak.
“(We’re) just getting more and more reps with each other on the floor,” Durant said. “Our home crowd (has also been) patient with us throughout the season and understanding that we figuring some stuff out. When we go on a tough, little stretch, then they’re getting us a little extra juice, so that matters.
“We’re all just trying to figure it out, to be honest. And I think that’s just a natural evolution of a team whose getting healthy, whose getting more reps is you going to be better at home, you gonna be more comfortable at home. Guys been in Phoenix for longer now. As the year goes on, you become more and more comfortable at home, and we got to take advantage of those moments we get a chance to play in front of the home crowd.”
In Sunday’s win over the Lakers, all five Suns’ starters scored 18 or more points for the first time since 2009.
The Rockets have lost two straight since playing the Suns, both to the Thunder. Their latest loss came in a 112-95 defeat Tuesday night in Oklahoma City, despite both Alperen Sengun (23 points, 11 rebounds) and Jabari Smith Jr. (18 points, 13 rebounds) recording double-doubles.
Local Game Information
Start Time: 7:00 p.m. MST
Location: Footprint Center
TV Channel: 3TV/AZ Family
Radio: Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, La Mejor 106.5 FM
Stream: Suns Live (click for more info)
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) February 29, 2024
Betting Odds
Line: PHX -8.5
O/U: 232.5
Injury Report
Phoenix Suns: Jusuf Nurkić (right ankle sprain) PROBABLE | Bradley Beal (left hamstring injury management) QUESTIONABLE | Eric Gordon (left groin soreness) QUESTIONABLE | Nassir Little (left knee inflammation) OUT Damion Lee (right meniscus surgery) OUT
Houston Rockets: Jalen Green (illness) QUESTIONABLE | Tari Eason (left lower leg injury management) OUT | Steven Adams (right knee PCL surgery) OUT
Starters (Projected)
Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker, Bradley Beal (or Eric Gordon/Royce O’Neale), Grayson Allen, Kevin Durant, Jusuf Nurkić
Houston Rockets: Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green (or Amen Thompson), Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun
Five Keys to Game for Suns
- Sustaining big leads
- Applying pressure on both sides of the ball
- Limiting points in the paint
- Making/ shooting more 3-pointers
- Ball movement
Prediction
Suns 116 – Rockets 102
The Suns are hungry for a win after what happened last week in Houston, and there is no reason they should not get one tonight. Phoenix looked like it figured a lot out in Sunday’s win against the Lakers and should carry that over tonight. Coach Frank Vogel stressed the importance of ball movement heading into tonight’s matchup, as the Suns are 12-0 when recording 32 or more assists, the exact number they recorded against L.A. In comparison, they only had 23 against Houston last week.
Expect Phoenix to continue to amp up its defensive pressure and have the ball hopping around on offense. If the Suns can do this, tonight should be an easy win.
Last Meeting (Feb. 22, 2024)
Phoenix Suns Falter Against Houston Rockets Amid Shooting Woes
Team Matchup Notes
Here are some stats, notes and everything else to know about the Suns and Rockets before their third matchup of the season (via Suns):
Each team’s stats (via Suns):
Preview: Injury report
Injury statuses of 3 key Suns’ players revealed for tomorrow’s game vs. Rockets
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
