In front of a sellout crowd on Sunday at PHX Arena, the Phoenix Suns suffered their worst margin of defeat of the season, falling to the Houston Rockets with a score of 148-109. The Suns entered the game with a record of 35-39, sitting 11th in the Western Conference, desperately pushing for a spot in the Play-In Tournament. Meanwhile, the Rockets were in a strong position, ranked second in the West with an impressive 48-26 record.
Both Devin Booker and Kevin Durant of the Suns were averaging over 25 points per game as the season neared its conclusion. However, the Suns were without Bradley Beal, who missed the game due to a left hamstring strain. Head coach Mike Budenholzer provided some positive news regarding Beal's recovery, stating, "Yeah, he’s making good progress. He’s played some 5-on-5 (during practice) which is a big step—just need to continue to do that, continue to see how he responds, and see how that goes."
On the other hand, the Rockets had Jalen Green leading their scoring efforts with an average of 21.5 points per game, but it was Alperen Sengun who truly made an impact. Sengun has been a standout player for Houston, averaging 19.2 points and 10.5 rebounds per game in just his third season in the NBA. Budenholzer praised Sengun, saying, "He’s such a great post player. He’s a great player everywhere on the court, from the elbows, he’s very unique…his ability to attack off the dribble, his spin, the footwork, the floaters, short ranged shots, and he’s a great passer—defensively he’s found a way to impact the game too, so a lot of credit to him."
The Rockets were riding a wave of momentum, having lost only one game out of their last 12, which included a nine-game winning streak. It was clear that this matchup would be a tough challenge for the Suns, particularly with Sengun on the floor. Early in the first quarter, Rockets player Amen Thompson went down with a likely foot injury after attempting a contested shot at the rim. Before leaving, he had managed to score six points, grab four rebounds, and dish out two assists in just six minutes.
As the first quarter progressed, the Rockets took an early lead, with the Suns struggling to transition defensively. They allowed seven fast break points, which proved detrimental. The second quarter saw tensions rise as Durant and Dillon Brooks got into an altercation. Brooks swatted at the ball even after the play had been blown dead, leading to a push from Durant. As Nick Richards approached Brooks, the situation escalated, resulting in Brooks being ejected after receiving two technical fouls. Budenholzer commented on the incident, noting, "There was a run at the end of the first quarter. Continued into the second quarter, gave up 78 points at halftime. Defensively, 36 and 42 in the first and second quarter, just not good enough."
By halftime, the Suns found themselves in a deep hole, trailing by a staggering 29 points. The Suns shot poorly from beyond the arc, finishing the half at 4-for-19, while the Rockets excelled with a 9-for-14 performance from three-point range. Despite Booker scoring 20 points in the first half on 9-for-11 shooting, the Suns were unable to keep pace with the Rockets, who had four starters in double figures.
As the second half began, the situation worsened for Phoenix when Durant rolled his ankle and was forced to exit the game. Budenholzer stated, "We’ll get an MRI on it tomorrow. He’ll stay back—and we’ll just assess." Durant finished the night with 11 points, seven rebounds, and one assist. With the third quarter winding down, the Rockets continued to dominate, leading 112-73.
The final quarter saw the Rockets maintain their commanding lead, ultimately winning by a margin of 39 points. The final score of 148-109 underscored the Rockets' superiority throughout the game. Budenholzer reflected on the performance, saying, "Tonight, they had everything. The three-point line, you know they hurt us there, they hurt us on the offensive boards, they hurt us driving it, they basically hurt us with everything. I think tonight was a step in the wrong direction."
For the Suns, Booker was the lone bright spot, finishing with 28 points on 12-for-17 shooting. Meanwhile, Sengun contributed 16 points and nine rebounds for the Rockets, while Thompson recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. However, it was Green who stole the show, leading all scorers with 33 points, including a remarkable 4-for-5 from three-point range and 11-for-13 at the free-throw line.
As a result of this defeat, the Suns fell to 35-40, while the Rockets improved to 49-26. With only seven games left in the season, the Suns' playoff chances are dwindling, and every game is now a must-win. Budenholzer acknowledged the urgency of the situation, stating, "There’s desperation. And then you have to go play—there’s an element at some point you have to go and get stops; you have to find a way to make things happen on the defensive end, you have to go and make plays offensively and—desperation, they’re important but you got to go play, and we have to play better."
The Suns will look to bounce back as they face the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. With the clock ticking down on their playoff hopes, the pressure is on for Phoenix to turn things around quickly.
