Short-handed Suns give up 133 points in loss to Rockets

HOUSTON — James Harden scored 40 points in three quarters and the Houston Rockets never trailed in a 133-102 victory over the short-handed Phoenix Suns on Saturday night.

Houston led by 26 at halftime and opened the second half with a 14-3 run, led by six points from Harden, to make it 91-54 with nine minutes left in the third quarter.

Harden made three 3-pointers in the third quarter, capped by one from the top of the key with about 30 seconds left that gave him 40 points. He found Sam Dekker on an alley-oop after that, and the Rockets got a huge ovation when Dekker finished with a one-handed dunk to make it 111-77 entering the fourth quarter.

The Suns were playing without starters Eric Bledsoe and Tyson Chandler, who didn’t make the trip for a scheduled day of rest after Phoenix played Chicago at home on Friday night. Devin Booker had 18 points for the Suns, who lost for the ninth time in 11 games.

It is the ninth 40-point game this season for Harden. He made eight 3s and had eight assists and six rebounds.

Houston scored the first 13 points of the game while the Suns missed their first five shots. The Rockets had built a 27-5 lead after a 3-pointer by Ryan Anderson midway through the first quarter. They were up by 20 later in the quarter before the Suns closed out the opening frame with a 7-1 run to cut the deficit to 38-24 entering the second quarter.

Houston used a 10-4 run to start the second quarter and push the lead to 48-28. Patrick Beverley led the way in that span with two 3-pointers.

Harden made seven points, with five free throws, in the last 90 seconds of first half to leave the Rockets up 77-51 at halftime.

TIP-INS

Suns: Alex Len fouled out with 6:42 remaining. He had 13 points and eight rebounds. … Saturday was the first game Bledsoe has missed this season. … T.J. Warren added 14 points.

Rockets: Saturday was the eighth time this season the Rockets have had 100 points before the fourth quarter. … Eric Gordon missed his second straight game with soreness in his lower back. Coach Mike D’Antoni said before the game that he’s feeling better and he expects him back for the next game. … Houston’s 77 points in the first half is the most the team has scored in a half this season. … Beverley had 19 points and has scored 14 points or more in each of the past three games. …

UP NEXT

Suns: Host New Orleans on Monday.

Rockets: Host Miami on Wednesday.