Who: Phoenix Suns (21-14) @ Houston Rockets (21-11)
When: 6:00 pm Arizona Time
Where: Toyota Center — Houston, Texas
Watch: Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports
Listen: ESPN 620
The Phoenix Suns are
fresh off their most impressive win of the season last night in downtown Phoenix, following a Devin Booker game-winning three-pointer against the best team in basketball.
Phoenix has won 6 of its last 7 games, and now sits just 2.0 games back from the number 3 seed out West. The Rockets just had their five-game win streak snapped by the Mavericks on Saturday night in Dallas.
The Suns have the tough task of not only playing two of the top teams in the West on consecutive nights, but tonight’s contest comes with external delays. The team flight was delayed due to mechanical issues, so they had to fly out this morning rather than last night.
A win tonight would move Phoenix to just half a game behind the Rockets in the Western Conference standings. The Suns are knocking on that playoff door. Grayson Allen is set to return tonight as well, hopefully providing a boost for the Suns.
Probable Starters
PHOENIX
- Collin Gillespie
- Devin Booker
- Dillon Brooks
- Royce O’Neale
- Mark Williams
HOUSTON
- Amen Thompson
- Kevin Durant
- Tari Eason
- Jabari Smith Jr.
- Steven Adams*
Injury Report
Suns
- Grayson Allen — PROBABLE (Right Knee)
- Mark Williams — PROBABLE (Injury Management)
- Jamaree Bouyea — OUT (Concussion Protocol)
- Jalen Green — OUT (Right Hamstring Strain)
Rockets
- Alperen Sengun — OUT (Ankle)
- Steven Adams — QUESTIONABLE (Ankle)
What to Watch For
The Suns’ fatigue factor will be something to monitor after a hard-fought win that took a lot out of them last night, especially with the travel delays throwing them out of their usual routine. That being said, Phoenix catches a bit of a break with Houston missing Alperen Sengun in this one.
All eyes will be on the Kevin Durant vs. Dillon Brooks matchup. We all know Brooks is not afraid to mix it up, regardless of his defensive assignment. KD didn’t play in the first meeting, but got the better of the Suns in Houston back in early December. Still no Jalen Green for Phoenix as he works his way back, meaning he won’t get a chance to play against his former team later this year on April 7th.
The battle of the guards in Reed Sheppard vs. Collin Gillespie is another subplot to watch. Can Jordan Goodwin continue his hot shooting from last night? They’re going to need every bit of it. I’m not overly concerned about the guard play — they have plenty of depth there. It’s about how the wings, forwards, and bigs all show up against a long, athletic Houston squad.
Ryan Dunn, Royce O’Neale, Isaiah Livers… my eyes are on you. Phoenix has to find a way to disrupt Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Kevin Durant, and Dorian Finney-Smith. The return of Grayson Allen will give them so fresh (and rusty) legs in the second of a back-to-back.
Key to a Suns Win
The Rockets are without Sengun and possibly Steven Adams, meaning they will rely heavily on Clint Capela’s minutes. Luckily for Houston, Capela is arguably the best third-string center in the NBA. Phoenix will likely be closely monitoring Mark Williams’ minutes of the second of a back-to-back, meaning more minutes for Oso Ighodaro and Nick Richards.
The Suns will need all the interior help they can get against a long, athletic team like Houston. Defensively, it’s going to take a team effort to keep them out of the paint and off the glass. Forcing the Rockets to turn the ball over will be the key here, which is something Phoenix does well.
Getting under Kevin Durant’s skin early and playing him physically can help with some of that. As we all know, once he gets to his spot, it’s automatic. The Suns need to give him as much trouble as possible in getting there, because that’s where he struggles with turnovers. Sengun is their offensive hub as a playmaking big who can also score with ease, so taking him out of the equation makes Phoenix’s job of pressuring a little easier.
Regarding tonight’s game, Dillon Brooks said: “I want to get that one too.”
Prediction
Houston is too much to handle for a Suns team that competes but falls short due to the fatigue of the B2B in the final quarter, where the Rockets put them away for good.
Rockets 125, Suns 114
