The Phoenix Suns went from bad to worse in Sunday’s 148-109 loss to the Houston Rockets before a sellout crowd of 17,071 at PHX Arena.
The Suns not only dropped a third straight game and suffered their worst margin of defeat of the season, they lost Kevin Durant to a left ankle injury with 6:57 left in the third quarter.
Phoenix trailed, 92-57, at the time. Devin Booker paced the Suns with 28 points while Rockets guard Jalen Green led all scorers with 33 points.
The Suns trailed by as many as 42 points in suffering their worst loss of the season two games removed from a 30-point defeat Wednesday against the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics.
The Suns (35-40) are now 1½ games behind Sacramento for the 10th seed and final play-in spot in the Western Conference and trail Dallas by two games for ninth.
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Phoenix plays Tuesday at Milwaukee in Suns’ coach Mike Budenholzer’s return after being fired after the 2022-23 season.
Durant suffers injury, Suns getting destroyed by Rockets
The Phoenix Suns were down 112-73 after three quarters — and without their best player.
Kevin Durant suffered a left ankle sprain with 6:57 left in the third quarter and checked out of the game. He posted 11 points and eight rebounds in 23 minutes.
The Rockets led by as many as 41 points in the third quarter.
Devin Booker leads the Suns with 28 points, while Jalen Green leads all scorers with 33 points for the surging Rockets, who are 11-1 in their last 12 games.
Rockets surge after Brooks ejection, up 29 at half
The Suns are staring at a third straight loss as they trail Houston, 78-49, at the half.
The Rockets ended the second quarter on a 23-9 run. They have four players in double figures as Amen Thompson and Jalen Green each have 14 points.
Devin Booker had a game-high 20 points in the first half after failing to score in the first half of Friday’s loss at Minnesota. Kevin Durant has 11.
The Suns are 4-of-19 from 3.
Dillon Brooks was ejected with 4:48 left in the first half when he received two technical fouls after his exchange with Durant, Nick Richards and referee Justin Van Duyne.
The Suns were down 55-38 at the time.
Richards scored to make the difference 15 points, but Houston went on that 23-9 run to take command.
Rockets close quarter strong in taking lead over Suns
The Rockets closed the first quarter on an 11-0 run in building a 32-24 lead after one.
The Suns shot just 2-of-9 from 3 in the first quarter. Devin Booker scored seven points in the first after not scoring in the first half of Friday’s loss at Minnesota.
Dillon Brooks and Amen Thompson each scored eight points to lead Houston. The Rockets are 11-1 in their last 12 games.
The Suns are 11th in the West as they’ve split their last 12 games.
Suns starters vs. Rockets
The Suns are starting Collin Gillespie, who is coming off a career night in Friday’s loss at Minnesota, along Devin Booker, rookie Ryan Dunn, Kevin Durant and Nick Richards.
A two-way player, Gillespie posted 22 points, 10 assists and five rebounds against the Timberwolves. Gillespie is starting for Bradley Beal, who will miss his seventh straight game with a left hamstring injury.
The Rockets are starting Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, Amen Thompson, Dillon Brooks and All-Star center Alperen Sengun. They are 2-0 versus the Suns this season.
Injury updates: Beal remains out
Suns guard Bradley Beal will miss his seventh straight game as he continues recovering from a left hamstring strain. Suns coach Mike Budenholzer said pregame that Beal has played 5-on-5, is making progress, but didn’t put a timetable on his return.
The Suns also list G League/two-way players Jalen Bridges and TyTy Washington out.
Houston rookie guard Reed Sheppard available with a right thumb injury.
Forward Tari Eason is listed out with lower left leg injury management. The Rockets also list G League-two-way players Jack McVeigh and David Roddy out, while G League player Nate Williams is listed out on assignment.
