The Rockets concluded a 3-zero season sweep of the Phoenix Suns with a 148-109 victory. Don’t be deceive with the aid of using the scoreboard, it wasn’t that close.
There’s now no longer an first-rate quantity of narrative to put earlier than you for this one. The recreation commenced out close, as Devin Booker and Kevin Durant apparently couldn’t miss, and the Rockets, in particular Jalen Green, overlooked a few appears early.
The apex of the Suns got here at 2:forty four closing withinside the first quarter, once they lead 24-21. Phoenix could now no longer rating once more till 10:forty seven closing withinside the 2d quarter, at which factor the rating could be 37-27.
The Rockets could end the 1/2 of at 78-49. This became after a extremely weird and possibly touchy, ejection of Dillion Brooks for 2 technicals (while he really wasn’t escalating any contact, and became in reality shifting farfar from it, however possibly stated a few magic words, like “Howdy, Justin!” to referee Justin Van Duyne).
The ejection of Brooks appeared to encourage the Rockets to take benefit of what many withinside the Playback move called “All Star Game Defense” with the aid of using the Suns.
was certainly fun. The game, with the Rockets up 29 points entering the third quarter was effectively over. For forms sake, I suppose both teams played their starters until around the midway point of the third.
Budenholzer waved the white flag, and a Rockets bench parade ensued. It was a lot of fun, except for having to see Grayson Allen’s face. The NBA should insist on a non-translucent, full-face, mask for Grayson Allen. Not to protect him from injury, but to protect children and sensitive adults from having to witness his visage.
In the end, no Rocket who was available to play logged any fewer than 10 minutes of playing time, or scored fewer than 3 points, with most Rockets scoring 6 or more. Tari Eason sat out the first part of the Rockets West Coast back-to-back – good call.
The Rockets pick swap with the Suns in the 2025 NBA draft might have gotten an unfortunate boost, when Kevin Durant inadvertently stepped on Jabari Smith’s foot, and seemed to roll his ankle pretty badly.
Amen Thompson additionally rolled his ankle in comparable fashion, however with apparently much less dangerous result, in advance withinside the sport. He turned into capable of return. He’s gambling very well, together along with his passing coming faster, and greater incisively it seems, lately. Amen did his common filling of the boxscore with 12pts (6-10), 10rbs, 9ast in 25 mins.
Others having appropriate games: The Rockets.
Notably Jalen Green, after a patchy begin scored 33 factors in 27 mins, 9-17 (4-five 3pt), 10-12FT, 2rbs, 2ast, 1stl. But surely you may choose anyone. Cam Whitmore reputedly exists, and he spent his thirteen mins by and large dunking, scoring 13pts on 6-10 with 2rbs, 2ast, 1stl.
Reed Sheppard again from harm in a great setting. He performed 12 mins, scored 6 factors on 2-three 3pt, and had 2rbs, 3ast, 1stl.
VanVleet shot well, Sengun turned into appropriate, as turned into Dillon (till he turned into ejected after gambling eleven mins), and Jabari Smith Jr.
From the mid 2d sector onward this turned into a cakewalk. The Rockets now have forty nine wins heading into the next day night’s countrywide TV (TNT) sport with the Lakers. It will mark the Rockets NBA main 15th, and final, again-to-again of the season.
