Eric Gordon leaves early with injury as Suns scorch weary Rockets

With Russell Westbrook out on the second half of a back-to-back, the four-game winning streak for the Rockets came to an end in Phoenix.

A four-game winning streak for the Rockets ended Friday night in Phoenix, with the Suns pulling away in a 127-91 rout (box score). With 91 points, it was Houston’s lowest-scoring game of the season.

Phoenix improved to 21-31, while the Rockets fell to 33-19. The Suns were led by a career-high 39 points from Kelly Oubre Jr., who shot a blistering 14-of-19 (73.7%) from the field, including 7-of-9 (77.8%) on 3-pointers. Devin Booker scored 33 points on 10-of-18 shooting (55.6%).

Eric Gordon played only nine minutes for the Rockets and left early due to a lower left leg injury, while Russell Westbrook didn’t play at all due to planned maintenance on the second half of a road back-to-back.

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The team did not immediately offer specifics on Gordon’s leg injury or a timetable for his return. Gordon had surgery on his right knee earlier this season, but this issue involved his other leg.

Houston has only two games left before having over a week off for the All-Star break. That could buy Gordon more recovery time, if needed.

Friday’s game tipped off only about 20 hours after Thursday’s emotional road win over the Lakers went final, and the Rockets never looked close to the same. Dating back to Tuesday, it was Houston’s third game in a third city over a four-night span.

A night after they shot 19-of-42 (45.2%) on 3-pointers in Los Angeles, the weary Rockets made just 11-of-48 (22.9%) in Phoenix.

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Excluding James Harden, who scored a team-high 32 points on 5-of-10 shooting (50%) from 3-point range, the Rockets made just 6-of-38 (15.8%) from behind the arc. Two of those six non-Harden makes came in the fourth quarter, after the game had long been decided.

Phoenix shot 85% from the field in the first quarter, including 80% from 3-point range, while Houston shot just 30% overall.

That led to a quick 20-point advantage for the Suns, though Houston cut that lead to five late in the second quarter after Harden caught fire. But with Westbrook sitting out and Gordon leaving early due to injury, the Suns began to double-team Harden and force the ball out of his hands, and the Rockets didn’t make enough open shots to have a counter.

For the game, Phoenix shot 55.8% from the field and 48.4% on 3-pointers, and they out-rebounded the smaller Rockets by a commanding 51-29 margin. Houston shot just 34.1% overall.

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Harden and most of Houston’s available rotation players were pulled by D’Antoni late in the third quarter. From there, the Suns turned what was already a large lead into an epic rout. Chris Clemons, Michael Frazier, and William Howard — who have each spent significant time this season in the NBA G League — all played 12 or more minutes for the Rockets.

The Rockets return to action Sunday night in Houston against Western Conference rival Utah (32-18), with a chance to clinch the season series and potential tiebreaker between the two teams. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Central time from Toyota Center.