Phoenix faces a relentless Rockets team with postseason stakes on the line.
Who: Phoenix Suns (30-35) @ Houston Rockets (40-25)
When: 5:00pm Arizona Time
Where: Toyota Center — Houston, Texas
Watch: Arizona’s Family 3TV / Arizona’s Family Sports
Listen: KMVP 98.7
The uphill battle continues tonight in Houston, where the Phoenix Suns take on a surging Rockets squad currently sitting fifth in the Western Conference. This marks just their second meeting of the season, with the Suns falling 119-111 in Houston back on February 12. Round two is here, and the stakes are only getting higher.
This is a pesky week for Phoenix, full of pesky matchups, and the Rockets fit the bill perfectly. They aren’t an offensive juggernaut — ranking just 17th in offensive rating — but they grind teams down on the other end. Houston boasts the NBA’s third-best defensive rating, though they’ve slipped to seventh since the All-Star break. Small victories, right?
Winners of three straight, the Rockets are 3-3 in their last six games, though their recent success has come against what some might call lesser competition. But at this point, aren’t the Suns in that category? Five games below .500, clawing for relevance, and trailing Dallas by 2.5 games for the final Play-In spot. Phoenix is in no position to dismiss any opponent. Every game is critical now, but then again, every game is always critical when you’re fighting to stay afloat.
And make no mistake, Houston won’t be doing them any favors. The Rockets are fighting for home-court advantage in the first round, and they’ll be just as desperate as the Suns. This is a must-win for Phoenix, but it’s a must-win for Houston too. Something’s got to give.
Probable Starters
Injury Report
Suns
- Grayson Allen — DOUBTFUL (Low Back; Injury Management)
- Monte Morris — DOUBTFUL (Left Foot; Soreness)
Rockets
- Amen Thompson — OUT (Left Ankle; Sprain)
- Reed Sheppard — OUT (Right Thumb; Avulsion Fracture)
- Fred VanVleet — PROBABLE (Right Ankle; Strain)
Uniform Matchup
What to Watch For
Bradley Beal is slated to return tonight, offering a much-needed offensive spark to the Suns. But make no mistake, this game will be decided on the defensive end.
Houston hangs its hat on that side of the ball, ranking fourth in the NBA and allowing just 108.9 points per game. Their roster is filled with defensive pests, none more notorious than Dillon Brooks, who takes pride in living rent-free inside the minds of his opponents.
For Phoenix, the biggest challenge will be containing Jalen Green. The quick-footed guard has a knack for blowing past defenders, and given the Suns’ lack of interior resistance, he could turn this into a layup drill. Green thrives when he gets downhill, and if Phoenix doesn’t lock in at the point of attack, it could get ugly fast.
This would be the perfect situation to give Ryan Dunn some run. His athleticism and defensive instincts could be invaluable in slowing Green down. But we know how that goes.
Ryan Dunn’s minutes per game per week this season: https://t.co/aKxb2hEq2a pic.twitter.com/werVCQpC0Y
— John Voita (@DarthVoita) March 10, 2025
Key to a Suns Win
Every time I break down a Suns game, every time I scan the ‘Keys to Victory,’ I land in the same spot: defense and rebounding. It’s not rocket science. This team needs to play consistent, high-level defense. They need to slow the ball, stop the point of attack, and control the glass.
Houston won’t torch you from deep—they’re shooting just 34.5% from three, ranking 25th in the league. But what they lack in perimeter efficiency, they make up for in sheer effort. They lead the NBA in offensive rebounds, total rebounds, and second-chance points, racking up 17.8 per game.
So, once again, it comes down to the basics. Defend. Rebound. Or get buried.
Prediction
Nope. Not seeing a win here either. The Suns surprised me by keeping pace with a depleted Grizzlies squad, but Houston is a different beast. This is a team that grinds you down and enjoys every second of it. And that’s exactly where the Suns struggle.
Fatigue. Age. Stubborn rotations. Young legs like Ryan Dunn sit while the vets run on fumes. That’s the difference. That’s why they lose this one.
Rockets 109, Suns 101
Listen to the latest podcast episode of the Suns JAM Session Podcast below. Stay up to date on every episode, subscribe to the pod on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Podbean, Castbox.
Please subscribe, rate, and review.