Game Preview: Suns host Rockets in crucial game as season winds down

Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images

Who: Phoenix Suns (35-39) vs. Houston Rockets (48-26)

When: 6:00 pm Arizona Time

Where: Phoenix, Arizona — PHX Arena

Watch: NBA TV, AZFamily, Suns Live

Listen: KMVP 98.7

The Suns will take on the Houston Rockets in downtown Phoenix tonight, looking to get back on track. They are currently on a two-game skid after winning four straight.

Phoenix currently trails the Mavericks by 1.5 games after the Mavericks took down the Bulls by one point last night in Chicago. The Kings lost, dropping them to the 10th seed.

Here are the current standings entering play today:

Houston enters this one after a couple of days off. Their last contest was on Thursday against the Jazz in Utah. They won, led by All-Star Alperen Sengun’s 33 points and 10 rebounds. The Rockets have won 11 of their past 12 games, surging back into the second seed out West.

The Suns have met the Rockets twice this season, dropping both games to them.

Phoenix Suns v Houston Rockets

Phoenix

Rockets

Phoenix will be without Bradley Beal, who will miss his 7th straight game due to a hamstring strain.

Bradley Beal – OUT (Left Hamstring Strain)
Jalen Bridges – OUT (G League – Two-Way)
TyTy Washington Jr. – OUT (G League – Two-Way)
Reed Sheppard — QUESTIONABLE (thumb)

Rockets Launching

Houston has been on fire lately, clicking on all cylinders as a team on both sides of the floor. Their youth, athleticism, and energy have been problematic for the Suns this year.

Containing Sengun will be tough, but it’s imperative to make his life difficult for the Suns to get a win. Houston has 7, yes seven, players averaging double figures in points per game this season. It isn’t just one guy doing the damage.

Jalen Green can explode for 30 points any night. You have to deal with Sengun down low. Van Vleet provides steady play while the wings/forwards of Amen Thomspon, Jabari Smith Jr., Dillon Brooks, and Tari Eason run the floor.

It’s a deep squad that can beat you in a variety of ways.

Phoenix Suns v Houston Rockets

Youth Movement

Collin Gillespie, Ryan Dunn, and Oso Ighodaro have found more steady minutes of late, and for good reason. Houston’s youth and energy will need to be matched by the Suns, so it makes sense to keep riding the youth wave in this one. Well, not just this game specifically, but for the remainder of the season. The effort is contagious.

Collin Gillespie, who has started the past few games, looks tremendous. He is coming off a career-high 22-point, 10-assist night against the Wolves.

Devin Booker and Kevin Durant will need to step up for the rest of this run. The young core is doing their part lately.

Cut the turnovers down

We all know this by now. Turnovers are killing the Suns. Everyone has to be better at taking care of the basketball, it isn’t just one guy. The lazy passes and unforced errors are killers and have been for some time now.

The timeliness of their turnovers leads to easy buckets and destroys momentum. It has to stop. Will it? Probably not. We’ve been talking about it for a while now.

Take care of the basketball. Rebound the basketball. Show some heart.

If the Suns play hard, they’ll give themselves a shot. If they don’t, the hole will get deeper. Plain and simple.

Phoenix drops this one. Houston is well-rounded and will give them trouble despite the Suns hanging around all game.

Suns 104, Rockets 113

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Game Preview: Suns host Rockets in crucial game as season winds down

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