EMPIRE OF THE SUNS

Phoenix Suns stick with it to put away pesky, young Rockets

Oct 30, 2022, 10:11 PM

Phoenix Suns' Chris Paul (3), drives past Houston Rockets' Kevin Porter Jr. (3) in the second half ...

Phoenix Suns' Chris Paul (3), drives past Houston Rockets' Kevin Porter Jr. (3) in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022, in Phoenix. Phoenix won 124-109 over Houston. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

(AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

PHOENIX — Winning in the NBA is really hard to learn how to do. The Phoenix Suns proved that to the Houston Rockets on Sunday in a 124-109 win.

At halftime, Houston was 8-of-16 (50%) from 3-point range and had 19 second-chance points. Even better, the Suns were 4-for-15 (26.7%) from deep.

But the Rockets’ defense has a ways to go, and without that solid backbone, the Suns were able to shoot a staggering 22-of-28 (78.6%) on two-pointers with the freedom to get to their spots as they please.

Beyond that, Houston (1-6) just couldn’t locate a level of consistency to put together a few great minutes and take the lead in a half that was mostly within a possession or two. Phoenix (5-1), who won over three times as many games as the Rockets last year, can do that in its sleep at this point.

“I’ve been on the other side of it so I understand just young players trying to find their way in this league,” Suns guard Devin Booker said of the Rockets. “It’s kind of more individual than a collective unit in your first few years in the NBA until you figure it out. I think there’s a lot of that going on and we have a lot of experience together, we have playoff experience together. I don’t want to say we know when to turn it on but we know how to win games.”

To the Rockets’ credit, they are a young group that is playing really hard through it. That’s why the Suns only led by nine at the half and couldn’t muster a double-digit lead in the third quarter when many of us watching assumed that was when we’d see that type of run to put the game away.

“They’re a young team but a team that you can see their potential,” head coach Monty Williams said of Houston. “You can see how they can win some games this year because they just keep coming at you.”

In reality, the clock was the Rockets’ biggest enemy. The lack of that good stretch allowed Phoenix to remain in the driver’s seat and a 7-0 run with just over two minutes remaining put the Suns up 15 in a game that had no lead changes and two ties.

This is one of those games where we’d see Chris Paul turn on his scoring a bit through his midrange jumper, finding that pocket of time to turn the tide just enough across a couple of minutes for the Suns to be in a dominant position the rest of the way. Paul, of course, does this in clutch minutes too when the game is indeed on the line, unleashing his full midrange assassin.

We have yet to see that version of Paul this season, so until that guy shows up, the Suns are going to have to do some learning of their own to close out games that should never be still under consideration once there are five minutes remaining.

With that in mind, don’t let that tone undermine how this was still a good win. It is easy for great teams to sleepwalk through matchups like this and allow the young, hungry squad to get one.

“Just staying the course against a team that just keeps attacking,” Williams said. “Whether it’s off the dribble or the slashing or their ability to just come up with a 50/50 ball or an offensive rebound, that can be deflating but I thought our guys emotionally handled it tonight.”

Devin Booker scored 30 points on his 26th birthday and was one of seven Suns players in double figures.

That included Jock Landale, who starred in a center rotation without Deandre Ayton (left ankle sprain).

Williams elected to start Bismack Biyombo, a smart move given the success the second unit has to begin the year. Landale’s flow was unbothered with 16 points and seven rebounds in 23 minutes.

His constant energy and sprinting up and down the floor have been a huge positive.

“It’s so valuable,” Paul said of Landale opening up the floor. “The energy, the pace that he plays with. He gives himself up so much. There’s so many plays that Jock, DA, Biz — a lot of the open 3s we get is because of their selflessness in the way that they roll and the way that they run the floor.”

Cam Johnson hit five 3s for 15 of his 19 points, Mikal Bridges added 15 and it was 12 off the bench for Cam Payne and another 10 via Damion Lee. Payne also had four assists and four steals, as his great start to the year has really helped the bench stay solid.

Paul was 3-of-7 from the field for 10 points with 15 assists and zero turnovers. It is the ninth time in his career he’s had 15-plus assists with zero turnovers, per Stathead. That’s the second most in league history behind John Stockton’s 14.

That absurd number on 2s stuck. The Suns were 33-of-44 (75%) on ’em.

Kevin Porter Jr. was the Rockets’ only consistent source of offense on a team full of scoring talent. He dropped 26 points, plus eight rebounds and six assists. Second-year guard Jalen Green, who is going to be a star soon enough, was 5-of-18 shooting.

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Empire of the Suns

Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets is guarded by Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns during th...

Kellan Olson

Suns respond to season’s low point with thorough win over Nuggets

The guessing game of which Suns team shows up on which night persists. The best current version did on Wednesday in a win over the Nuggets.

17 hours ago

Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns argues a call with official Pat Fraser n the first half as Jere...

Kellan Olson

Suns stumble through latest inexcusable effort, lose to shorthanded Spurs

The Phoenix Suns followed up Saturday's win over the San Antonio Spurs with Monday's offering being more of what we've come to expect.

3 days ago

Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns drives in front of Keldon Johnson #3 of the San Antonio Spurs i...

Kellan Olson

Phoenix Suns find better energy for clinical win over Spurs

The Phoenix Suns were overdue for a win like Saturday's 131-106 final over the San Antonio Spurs, taking care of business early.

5 days ago

Jusuf Nurkic #20 of the Phoenix Suns passes over Kyle Lowry #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the...

Kellan Olson

Suns work through typical turnover problems to defeat 76ers

The Phoenix Suns dealt with some of their usual issues while managing a comfortable win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

8 days ago

Isaiah Thomas #4 of the Charlotte Hornets looks on prior to the game against the Miami Heat at FTX ...

Kellan Olson

Isaiah Thomas returns to NBA, Suns after injuries derailed his career in its prime

Isaiah Thomas' NBA journey is a unique one. Here's how he thinks he can help the 2023-24 Phoenix Suns in a return to the league.

8 days ago

Phoenix Suns head coach Frank Vogel looks on during the second quarter against the Boston Celtics  ...

Kellan Olson

Suns in serious jeopardy of play-in tournament fate entering last month of season

You wouldn't have guessed it by watching them over the last two games but the Phoenix Suns are in a precarious position.

9 days ago

Phoenix Suns stick with it to put away pesky, young Rockets