The Phoenix Suns (35-24, 5th in Western Conference) host the Houston Rockets (25-34, 12th in Western Conference) tonight for the second straight game and final meeting this season. Suns legendary forward Amar’e Stoudemire will go into the team’s Ring of Honor tonight at halftime.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Phoenix won its ninth home game in a row on Thursday night with a 110-105 victory over Houston. Devin Booker led the way with 35 points, as the Suns held the Rockets to their lowest opponent field percentage of the season at 33.3%.
This game got a little chippy towards the end when Devin Booker and Cam Whitmore both received technical fouls after an altercation. Alperen Sengun was ejected a minute of game time later after arguing with the officials after he fouled out. The Rockets then shifted to a hack-a-Nurkić strategy, intentionally fouling the Suns’ big man who finished a lowly 8-of-16 from the charity stripe.
We will see if this carries over tonight. The Suns have now gone 2-1 against the Rockets this season, as Houston has now lost its last three games after beating Phoenix last week.
Local Game Information
Start Time: 7:00 p.m. MST
Location: Footprint Center
TV Channel: 3TV/AZ Family
Radio:Â Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, La Mejor 106.5 FM
Stream:Â Suns Live (click for more info)
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) March 2, 2024
Betting Odds
Line: PHX -9.5
O/U:Â 233.5
Injury Report
Phoenix Suns: Bradley Beal (left hamstring injury management) AVAILABLE | Eric Gordon (left groin soreness) OUT | Nassir Little (left knee inflammation) OUT | Damion Lee (right meniscus surgery) OUT
Houston Rockets: Tari Eason (left lower leg injury management) OUT | Steven Adams (right knee PCL surgery) OUT
Starters (Projected)
Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Grayson Allen, Kevin Durant, Jusuf Nurkić
Houston Rockets:Â Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun
Five Keys to Game for Suns
- Sustaining big leads
- Making free throws
- Ball movement
- Staying in flow of offense with Beal back
- Shots falling
Prediction
Suns 112 – Rockets 97
It is clear the Rockets have found a way to muck up the game against the Suns, holding them to only 40% shooting in each of the last two contests. These are the only times the Suns have shot below 45% as a team since the start of 2024. Phoenix might be able to change this a bit with Bradley Beal returning, so the Suns could pull of a huge victory if their shots are falling. Their defense against Houston, and at home in general as of late, has been stellar, so this should continue tonight. I predict another ugly game, but the Suns playing consistently good defense and having enough good stretches that they win by a sizeable margin.
Last Meeting (Feb. 29, 2024)
Team Matchup Notes
Here are some stats, notes and everything else to know about the Suns and Rockets before their fourth matchup of the season (via Suns):
Each team’s stats (via Suns):
Preview: Injury report
Suns’ Bradley Beal set to return on minutes restriction vs. Rockets
Preview: Devin Booker, Frank Vogel on Amar’e Stoudemire
Devin Booker, Frank Vogel praise Amar’e Stoudemire before Suns Ring of Honor induction
Stories from Last Game
Devin Booker has no harsh feelings after altercation with Cam Whitmore
Devin Booker ties career high in 3-pointers made for 25th time
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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
