The Rockets had a chance to steal one in Phoenix, and the final sequence made the loss sting even more.
After Kevin Durant missed a 3-pointer that would have tied the game, the Suns simply ran the clock out with no real resistance. Durant made no effort to foul as Phoenix dribbled past him and closed out a 3-point win on Saturday night, a finish that summed up a sloppy night for Houston.
It wasn’t just the ending. The Rockets were missing the extra edge they’ve shown at other points this season, and the defensive lapses piled up. Houston had enough offensive aggression from its young players to stay in the fight, but the defense never held up consistently enough to match it.
That was the biggest difference. The Rockets gave up too many easy layups early to Jalen Green, then later lost track of shooters such as Luke Kennard and Devin Booker. For a team that leans on its defense as a calling card, Houston looked scattered more often than it should have.
And yet, the Rockets did flash the kind of defensive burst that can flip a game. Down 18 in the second quarter, they ripped off a 20-2 run over six minutes and held the Suns to just 2 points during that stretch.
It was the kind of pressure and energy Houston needed. The problem was that same intensity didn’t carry over after halftime.
Durant’s night was rough on the offensive end, too. He finished with 21 points on 5-of-14 shooting from the field.
His effort has been questioned earlier this season, but his defense has been pretty solid, and for most of this game he was fine on that side as well. He did have trouble at times when switched onto Devin Booker, though that was true for the rest of the Rockets, too.
Still, the last play is the one that will linger. After Durant’s miss was rebounded, there were still 5 seconds left when Dillon Brooks crossed halfcourt in front of him.
Durant was there, but he didn’t get in the way, and Brooks got by untouched. The Suns didn’t even need to make their free throws to finish off the win.
Durant wasn’t the only Rocket who could have helped stop the clock, and others were in better position as the rebound was being secured. But his slow jog toward Brooks as time slipped away stood out, and it left Houston with a loss that felt avoidable.
In Other News...
Bruce Thornton Just Gave Rockets Fans A Reason To Revisit The Backcourt
Bruce Thorntons first stop with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers gave Rockets fans a fresh reason to keep an eye on the back end of the roster. Assigned to Houstons G League affiliate, the rookie guard has already shown signs of growth in his first NBA season, and the move down to the Vipers was another chance to get real game reps in a setting where he could handle more of the offense.
The assignment did not last long. Thornton was back with the Rockets after the game, a reminder that Houston is still sorting through its backcourt depth while keeping tabs on one of its younger pieces. For a team that has been watching his development closely since taking him 31st overall in the 2026 NBA Draft, every brief stint like this feels like part of a larger evaluation. [Read more 🡒]
Jabari Smith Jr. Has To Stop Disappearing In Rockets Offense
Jabari Smith Jr. opened the season looking far more assertive, attacking the rim and taking on a bigger scoring load for Houston in a way that suggested real offensive growth. Through the early stretch, he was giving the Rockets a different kind of threat, one that could punish defenses when they focused too heavily on the rest of the lineup and help keep the offense from becoming too predictable.
But the recent dip was a reminder of how much more there is to unlock. When Smith stops looking for his own shot, Houston loses one of the young pieces it needs most to develop into a dependable scoring option, and the offense can feel thinner for it. The Rockets do not need him to force the issue every night, but they do need the version of Smith who stays aggressive and makes opposing defenses pay attention. [Read more 🡒]
Dillon Brooks Just Gave Rockets Fans Another Reason To Hate This Matchup
Dillon Brooks has never needed much help turning a game into a grudge match, and the former Rockets wing is doing it again ahead of Houstons meeting with Phoenix. Brooks, now with the Suns, said the matchup carries extra edge because of the recent back-and-forth involving Kevin Durant and Suns owner Mat Ishbia, a social media exchange that already had plenty of heat before the teams even tipped off.
Brooks also made it clear he wants his response to land squarely on Durant, not in the usual vague, indirect NBA internet style. For Rockets fans, it is another reminder that this matchup comes with more than the usual playoff-style tension, especially with Brooks leaning into the moment and promising to meet Durants comments head-on. [Read more 🡒]