Suns look to continue winning against Rockets
Feb 3, 2012, 4:30 PM | Updated: 6:59 pm
The Phoenix Suns, who have owned the Houston Rockets recently, look to continue that trend over their Western Conference foe.
Phoenix had won seven straight against Houston until March of last season, when the Rockets beat the Suns 95-93 at Toyota Center. Phoenix played that game without Steve Nash, who was out with a hip injury.
The 12-10 Rockets have dropped consecutive games to Minnesota and San Antonio, while the Suns are coming off a decisive 17-point win over the woeful New Orleans Hornets.
In that game, two-time MVP Steve Nash surpassed Kevin Johnson to become the Suns’ all-time leader in assists, with 6,518.
Containing Houston’s backcourt of Kevin Martin and Kyle Lowry will be the top priority for the Suns.
Martin is averaging 21 points per game but has really broken out the last seven games, posting four games with 29 or more points. The Suns have had success containing Martin, holding him to a 13.9 career scoring average, which is his lowest against any team in eight seasons as a pro.
Lowry averaged 21 points against Phoenix last year, exploding for 32 in one game March 8.
Friday night would have been the first time that Suns rookie forward Markieff Morris faced his twin brother Marcus as a pro. But their head-to-head debut will have to wait, since Houston has assigned Marcus to their D-League affiliate.
Markieff, picked 13th in last summer’s NBA Draft by Phoenix, and one spot before his younger brother, is leading all rookies in three-point field goal percentage, hitting 48.8 percent from behind the arc.
Suns forward Grant Hill is listed as questionable and may not play due to knee soreness.
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