In the first of two straight games in the same building between the same teams, the Rockets couldn’t recapture their home form in Thursday’s 110-105 loss (box score) to the Phoenix Suns. With the loss, Houston (25-34) drops to a woeful 5-24 on the road this season.
Tari Eason remained sidelined with a lower left leg injury, and it appears quite possible that it could end his 2023-24 season. Bradley Beal and Eric Gordon were out with minor injuries for Phoenix.
The Suns lost in Houston last Friday, but led by Devin Booker, it was a very different story in Phoenix (35-24). The All-Star guard finished with a game-high 35 points on Thursday while shooting 13-of-27 from the field (48.1%), including 6-of-11 on 3-pointers (54.5%).
Jalen Green led the way for the Rockets, finishing with a team-high 34 points and 5 rebounds. Green’s shot faded as the game progressed and he shot just 10-of-27 (37.0%), though he did make 7-of-17 from 3-point range (41.2%) and all seven of his free-throw attempts.
But on the offensive end of the court, Green didn’t have enough help, and particularly not from distance. Other notable lines included:
- Fred VanVleet: 21 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists; 6-of-16 shooting (37.5%), 2-of-8 on 3-pointers (25.0%), 7-of-7 on free throws
- Jabari Smith Jr.: 11 points, 16 rebounds; 3-of-11 shooting (27.3%), 1-of-6 on 3-pointers (16.7%)
- Dillon Brooks: 6 points, 8 rebounds; 3-of-11 shooting (27.3%), 0-of-6 on 3-pointers
- Alperen Sengun: 8 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 6 fouls, ejected; 3-of-7 shooting (42.9%)
- Cam Whitmore: 14 points, 8 rebounds; 5-of-14 shooting (35.7%), 0-of-5 on 3-pointers
As a team, the Rockets connected on just 33-of-99 shots (33.3%) and 11-of-45 from 3-point range (24.4%) on Thursday night.
On the positive side, Houston went +12 in 10 minutes with backup center Jock Landale, who tallied 8 points (50% FG) and 6 rebounds.
Here’s our look at Thursday’s highlights and postgame interviews, along with reaction by media members and fans. Saturday’s rematch from Footprint Center is up next, with the tip at 8 p.m. Central.