Rockets Eclipse Suns, 118-109, Snap Road Skid
Launch Pad. Streaking Halt. Green Valley.
Jalen Green stole the opening tip, and the Rockets didn’t look back, as Houston took the second part of the Phoenix set, 118-109, on Saturday night. For the second consecutive game, Green scored 34 points in the Valley of the Sun. He was even better in Houston’s victory, shooting the ball more efficiently at a 12-for-23 clip in the squad’s victory on Saturday night. If the Rockets can find a way to channel Phoenix Jalen Green outside of the desert, Houston will be tough to beat on any night. Green was an instrumental part of giving the Rockets an early advantage. Houston led 38-19 after the first quarter, arguably their best frame of the season, considering the opponent and location. The Rockets would extend that lead to 20 points in the second period before the Suns began their comeback attempt. Luckily for Houston, they had enough players step up to prevent Phoenix from overtaking the lead. Alperen Sengun finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Fred VanVleet registered 24 points and 11 dimes for Houston
Entering tonight’s contest, the Rockets had lost 9 straight games on the road, with the Suns winners of 9 straight games at home. Both those streaks ended on Saturday night, as Houston earned one of their most impressive wins of the year in a rare road victory. The Rockets are now 6-24 away from Toyota Center. If this latest victory wasn’t the best all season for this young Houston team, it at least ranks up near the top of the list. Phoenix came back to make it a contest in the second half, but Houston were able to fend off the star-studded Suns. Bradley Beal was ejected after getting into a scuffle with Jalen Green. Regardless, the Rockets survived a combined 54-point outing from Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. Houston dominated Phoenix in transition, outscoring the Suns 28-10 in fast break points.
Saturday’s win ends Houston’s road trip and tough stretch which saw them face only the Suns and the Thunder over the past five games. Considering those opponents, 2-3 isn’t too bad of a record coming out of that stretch. Could their latest victory be a turning point as Houston enters the final 22-game portion of the campaign? We’ll find out soon enough, as the Rockets enter the home stretch of this season. Up next, Houston gets a rare two days off before returning home for back-to-back games at Toyota Center next week. The Rockets will host Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs, followed by a visit by James Harden and the Clippers. It’s a chance for this young Houston squad to start the final quarter of this campaign on a high-note, and with a lot of luck, potentially sneak into the Play-In at season’s end.