The Phoenix Suns put up a fierce effort despite being shorthanded and lost to the Houston Rockets 119-111 on Wednesday night. Key players Bradley Beal and Grayson Allen were missing due to injury, and Devin Booker played just 26 minutes before exiting with a low back contusion.
Kevin Durant led the charge for the Suns, scoring 37 points and adding nine assists. He had a sublime shooting performance but also struggled with turnovers, which the Rockets capitalized on. Tyus Jones contributed six of those turnovers and had a career-high six.
The Rockets’ offense was lackluster without Fred VanVleet, who has been playing with an ankle strain. The Suns took advantage of this, scoring 28 points off their opponents’ 18 turnovers. However, Phoenix’s own issues persisted, as they struggled to finish possessions and lose focus on easy opportunities.
Houston snapped a six-game losing streak by defeating the Toronto Raptors on Sunday, but the Rockets themselves looked tired in this contest. The game was more competitive than expected, with both teams playing well in the first half before Houston pulled ahead.
Despite Durant’s heroics, the Suns were unable to sustain their lead, and the Rockets went on a 13-1 run to reclaim the lead. Phoenix responded with a late surge, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit.
The loss is the Suns’ eighth patch of games played without Beal or Allen, who have missed significant time due to injury. This trend has raised concerns about their ability to maintain consistency throughout the season.
Source: https://arizonasports.com/nba/phoenix-suns/shorthanded-suns-put-up-fight-lose-steam-vs-rockets/3573738