Suns Swept Seasonally
The Rockets concluded a 3-0 season sweep of the Phoenix Suns with a 148-109 victory. Don’t be mislead by the scoreboard, it wasn’t that close.
There’s not an incredible amount of narrative to lay before you for this one. The game started out close, as Devin Booker and Kevin Durant seemingly couldn’t miss, and the Rockets, particularly Jalen Green, missed some looks early.
The apex of the Suns came at 2:44 remaining in the first quarter, when they lead 24-21. Phoenix would not score again until 10:47 remaining in the 2nd quarter, at which point the score would be 37-27. The Rockets would finish the half at 78-49. This was after a somewhat bizarre and perhaps touchy, ejection of Dillion Brooks for two technicals (when he clearly wasn’t escalating any contact, and was in fact moving away from it, but perhaps said some magic words, like “Howdy, Justin!” to referee Justin Van Duyne). The ejection of Brooks seemed to inspire the Rockets to take advantage of what many in the Playback stream called “All Star Game Defense” by the Suns.
The Rockets scoring 46 points in a quarter was certainly fun. The game, with the Rockets up 29 points entering the third quarter was effectively over. For forms sake, I suppose both teams played their starters until around the midway point of the third. Budenholzer waved the white flag, and a Rockets bench parade ensued. It was a lot of fun, except for having to see Grayson Allen’s face. The NBA should insist on a non-translucent, full-face, mask for Grayson Allen. Not to protect him from injury, but to protect children and sensitive adults from having to witness his visage.
In the end, no Rocket who was available to play logged any fewer than 10 minutes of playing time, or scored fewer than 3 points, with most Rockets scoring 6 or more. Tari Eason sat out the first part of the Rockets West Coast back-to-back – good call.
The Rockets pick swap with the Suns in the 2025 NBA draft might have gotten an unfortunate boost, when Kevin Durant inadvertently stepped on Jabari Smith’s foot, and seemed to roll his ankle pretty badly.
Amen Thompson also rolled his ankle in similar fashion, but with seemingly less harmful result, earlier in the game. He was able to return. He’s playing very well, with his passing coming faster, and more incisively it seems, lately. Amen did his usual filling of the boxscore with 12pts (6-10), 10rbs, 9ast in 25 minutes.
Others having good games: The Rockets.
Notably Jalen Green, after a patchy start scored 33 points in 27 minutes, 9-17 (4-5 3pt), 10-12FT, 2rbs, 2ast, 1stl. But really you could pick anyone. Cam Whitmore apparently exists, and he spent his 13 minutes mostly dunking, scoring 13pts on 6-10 with 2rbs, 2ast, 1stl.
Reed Sheppard returned from injury in a perfect setting. He played 12 minutes, scored 6 points on 2-3 3pt, and had 2rbs, 3ast, 1stl.
VanVleet shot well, Sengun was good, as was Dillon (until he was ejected after playing 11 minutes), and Jabari Smith Jr.
From the mid second quarter onward this was a cakewalk. The Rockets now have 49 wins heading into tomorrow night’s national TV (TNT) game with the Lakers. It will mark the Rockets NBA leading 15th, and final, back-to-back of the season.
Let’s hope for more good things, and 50 wins tomorrow night. It’s a West Coast AND TNT game so it’s going to start at 9pm CST. See you night owls and others there.
PS – Phoenix had Western Night tonight, and a charming, old-fashioned looking court with a big cactus. I liked it the most of any special court I’ve seen this season.