Rockets Storm Back to Shock Suns, 122-121, Survive Thriller in Phoenix
Third Quarter Charm. Green Sunset. Statement Game.
After two tough losses in Denver to start their four-game road trip, Houston entered Phoenix as heavy underdogs. Jalen Green also made his entrance into the Valley of the Sun with something to prove. Green had arguably the best game of his career. Houston’s budding superstar scored 30 points en route to leading the Rockets to a 122-121 upset over the Suns in the Desert. The victory was by far Houston’s most impressive so far this season, as they beat the top seed in the West, and snapped Phoenix’s six game winning streak. Jalen Green led the Rockets with 30 points. Jabari Smith Jr. continues to play consistently well after a rough first 15 games to the season. Jabari had 17 points on 7-for 12 shooting (including 3-for-5 from three-point land), 6 rebounds, and is having a more visceral and aggressive impact on each game as the season continues to roll on. Bruno Fernando had the best game of his career. Fernando scored 14 points on 7-for-8 shooting (mainly dunks via Daishen Nix) in only 14 minutes. More importantly, he finished the game on Houston’s closest, most exciting game of the season. Usually Alperen Sengun would be out their in a close contest, but Fernando’s performance earned him more playing time than usual. It also bodes well for the big man’s chances of seeing more court time the rest of the season.
Despite the positive result when the final buzzer sounded, after the opening tip it appeared Houston was on their way to another blowout loss on the road courtesy of an elite team. Comparable to Wednesday in Denver, the Rockets got off to a slow start on Friday night. Houston trailed 12-2 early in the first period before spurting out a 15-7 run that kept them within striking distance after the one quarter, trailing 36-27. After an even-keeled second period, Houston trailed by 7 points at halftime. But it was the third period that really showed the Rockets’ growth as a young team as we’re finally into the second quarter of the season. Houston trailed by as many as 16 points with around 3:30 remaining in the third quarter. Luckily for the Rockets, Jalen Green was angry, and had the game of his life. After being beaten down in Denver and struggling, Green seemed to grow up overnight. He scored 20 of Houston’s 29 points in the third period to get the squad back in the game. Green also attacked the basket with ferocity. H-Town’s superstar-in-the-making shot a career-high 16 free throws, tying his career best of 12 made freebies in a game. The squad as a whole had a whopping 43 free throw attempts, as their aggressiveness was on full display. Most notably in the second half when they mounted their impressive comeback road victory.
These gritty Rockets trailed by as many as 13 points in the fourth quarter, 101-88, but Bruno Fernando, Daishen Nix, and a host of guys who don’t usually make the biggest contributions, had their best games of the season respectively. Nix and Fernando developed chemistry in the second quarter that rolled over into the final frame. This was an all around team effort from the Rockets. Houston shot a blistering 13-for-19 from the field in final period. Even though Jalen Green receives the majority of the credit, Houston doesn’t win in Phoenix without everyone buying in to the game plan And everyone on the roster was on ready to play last night. The Rockets even withstood a 41-point explosion from Devin Booker, who narrowly missed winning the game at the buzzer. The Suns had a great chance at victory on the final possession. The Rockets led by only a point, and the Suns had 28 seconds remaining. Green played the best one-on-one defense I’ve witnessed in his career, forcing Booker to take a tough shot, that rattled out. After a few missed tip-ins from the Suns, the Rockets regained the ball only to turn it over to Phoenix again with less than 5 seconds remaining. Phoenix found Booker for a wide open shot at the free throw line, that just fell short, and the Rockets survived their most impressive win of the season.
This was by far Houston’s most impressive win of the season. Coming off two devastating losses to start this brutal road trip, the Rockets came into the hottest team in the league’s house, traded blows, and got the scrappy win. In a similar manner to how contenders win close games. Houston showed real signs of maturity and growth in their chemistry, effort, and decision making. Stephen Silas even showed progress as a young coach by trusting his gut, and playing Fernando in the waning seconds of a game when Bruno’s used to being a seat warmer in those situations. Friday night;’s statement win proved many things: Jalen Green is going to be a superstar sooner than expected. After a slow start, inquiries about Jabari Smith Jr. being a bust, and inconsistencies early on, the Rockets showed why they picked Smith Jr. on draft night. Jabari is the real deal, and is already showing All-Star potential a quarter into the season.
Up next, the Rockets travel to the Bay Area to face Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors. Golden State won the previous game in Houston. The lasting memory from that contest was Curry “putting the Rockets to sleep” after he mimicked falling asleep, while taunting the crowd after sealing the game with a big shot. That, and Klay Thomson exploding for 41 points. Along with Houston, the Warriors are playing their second straight game, after beating the Chicago Bulls, 119-111, last night at home. This means Klay Thompson won’t be suiting up tonight, as Golden State’s protocol is to avoid playing Thompson two days in a row. Other than their win in Houston earlier this season, the Dubs have only one more road win for a total of two on the season. That’s even less than the Rockets, who secured their third road win of the season impressively in Phoenix. And once again, Houston enters Saturday night as heavy underdogs against the Warriors. But if last night proved anything… underdogs or not, these Rockets always have a chance.