Game ID: 22300870
Houston Rockets @ Phoenix Suns
Saturday, March 2, 2024 at 9:00 PM ET
Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
PHX 19 25 35 30 109HOU 38 16 35 29 118
HOU @ PHX ScoutingHOU @ PHX Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
PHX availability going into 2/22 · 7 days' rest
full strength
PHX availability going into 2/23 · back-to-backOUT Beal missed 2 since 2/14, out tonight
PHX availability going into 2/25 · 1 day's restOUT Beal missed 3 since 2/14, out tonight
PHX availability going into 2/29 · 3 days' restOUT Beal missed 4 since 2/14, out tonight
NEW Bol 11 to 17 min over the last 4
PHX availability going into 3/02 · 1 day's restOUT Beal missed 5 since 2/14, returns tonight: 20 min (60% of 34)
OUT Gordon missed 2 since 2/25, out tonight
NEW Bol 11 to 22 min over the last 4
PHX availability going into 3/03 · back-to-backOUT Gordon missed 3 since 2/25, returns tonight: 30 min (109% of 28)
BACK Beal back 3/02 after 5, 20 min since (60% of 34)
NEW Bol 11 to 22 min over the last 4
PHX availability going into 3/05 · 1 day's restBACK Beal back 3/02 after 5, 27 min since (80% of 34)
BACK Gordon back 3/03 after 3, 30 min since (109% of 28)
NEW O'Neale 25 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Bol 11 to 19 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/07 · 1 day's restOUT Booker missed 2 since 3/03, out tonight
OUT Okogie missed 2 since 3/03, out tonight
BACK Beal back 3/02 after 5, 30 min since (89% of 34)
BACK Gordon back 3/03 after 3, 26 min since (93% of 28)
NEW O'Neale 25 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Bol 11 to 16 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/09 · 1 day's restOUT Booker missed 3 since 3/03, out tonight
OUT Okogie missed 3 since 3/03, out tonight
BACK Beal back 3/02 after 5, 31 min since (92% of 34)
BACK Gordon back 3/03 after 3, 25 min since (89% of 28)
NEW O'Neale 25 to 34 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 2/23 · back-to-backBACK VanVleet back 2/22 after 5, 30 min since (83% of 37)
BACK Whitmore back 2/22 after 3, 24 min since (130% of 19)
BACK Landale back 2/10 after 2, 12 min since (91% of 14)
NEW Thompson 22 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Holiday 16 to 23 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 2/25 · 1 day's restBACK VanVleet back 2/22 after 5, 33 min since (91% of 37)
BACK Whitmore back 2/22 after 3, 22 min since (120% of 19)
BACK Landale back 2/10 after 2, 12 min since (91% of 14)
NEW Thompson 22 to 33 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 2/27 · 1 day's restOUT Tate missed 2 since 2/23, returns tonight: 2 min (16% of 16)
BACK VanVleet back 2/22 after 5, 35 min since (95% of 37)
BACK Whitmore back 2/22 after 3, 21 min since (110% of 19)
BACK Landale back 2/22 after 2, 7 min since (50% of 14)
NEW Thompson 22 to 31 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 2/29 · 1 day's restBACK VanVleet back 2/22 after 5, 35 min since (96% of 37)
BACK Whitmore back 2/22 after 3, 19 min since (104% of 19)
BACK Tate back 2/27 after 2, 2 min since (16% of 16)
BACK Landale back 2/22 after 2, 5 min since (39% of 14)
HOU availability going into 3/02 · 1 day's restBACK VanVleet back 2/22 after 5, 36 min since (98% of 37)
BACK Whitmore back 2/22 after 3, 21 min since (112% of 19)
BACK Tate back 2/27 after 2, 2 min since (16% of 16)
BACK Landale back 2/22 after 2, 6 min since (48% of 14)
HOU availability going into 3/05 · 2 days' restOUT Tate missed 2 since 2/29, out tonight
NEW Smith Jr. 32 to 38 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 3/06 · back-to-backOUT Tate missed 3 since 2/29, returns tonight: 6 min (36% of 16)
HOU availability going into 3/08 · 1 day's restBACK Tate back 2/27 after 2, 4 min since (26% of 16)
HOU availability going into 3/10 · 1 day's restOUT Je. Green missed 2 since 3/06, returns tonight: 11 min (63% of 17)
BACK Tate back 3/06 after 3, 6 min since (36% of 16)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 111, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 32 free throws a game; Booker at 25 and Durant at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Beal (5 straight), Gordon (2 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 116, shooting 39 percent and 31 from three, 27 free throws a game; Sengun at 17 and Ja. Green at 17 a game. That is 3 straight losses. One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-4 a night and Houston minus-1 and the arc, Phoenix at 35 percent from three to Houston's 31. Call it Phoenix 117, Houston 109.
2/22 @ DAL 113-123 — PHX notes
PHX lost 113-123. PHX shot 48% (40 of 83) to DAL's 48%, 15 of 36 from three. PHX turned it over 16 times to DAL's 10, and DAL turned those into 10 steals. Booker led with 35 (13 of 21, 2 of 6 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Durant added 23, Gordon 16. Q2 was theirs, 30-28, but the other 3 periods went 95-83 against them. They led by as many as 11. Okogie's -15 in 18 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/23 @ HOU 110-114 — PHX notes
PHX lost 110-114. PHX shot 40% (38 of 95) to HOU's 40%, 7 of 31 from three. Durant led with 28 (10 of 22, 1 of 7 from three, 7 of 10 at the line); Booker added 25, Bol 25. Q4 was theirs, 34-25, the deficit cut from 13 to 4, but the other 3 periods went 89-76 against them. They led by as many as 16. O'Neale's -23 in 17 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/25 vs LAL 123-113 — PHX notes
PHX won 123-113. PHX shot 47% (44 of 93) to LAL's 52%, 17 of 40 from three, and went to the line 19 times to LAL's 8 — 18 points from the stripe to their 4. The glass went 51-34 for them. Allen led with 24 (8 of 17, 6 of 12 from three); Durant added 22, Booker 21. The hinge was Q1, 45-28: from level to 17 ahead, and the lead reached 20. O'Neale was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
2/29 vs HOU 110-105 — PHX notes
PHX won 110-105. PHX shot 40% (36 of 89) to HOU's 33%, 13 of 37 from three, and went to the line 37 times to HOU's 31 — 25 points from the stripe to their 28. Booker led with 35 (13 of 27, 6 of 11 from three); Durant added 24, Nurkić 16. The hinge was Q1, 33-17: from level to 16 ahead, and the lead reached 21. Bol was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
3/02 vs HOU 109-118 — PHX notes
PHX lost 109-118. PHX shot 46% (39 of 85) to HOU's 44%, 9 of 29 from three. PHX turned it over 19 times to HOU's 12, and HOU turned those into 13 steals. Durant led with 30 (12 of 19, 1 of 4 from three, 5 of 8 at the line); Booker added 24, O'Neale 20. Q2 was theirs, 25-16, the deficit cut from 19 to 10, but the other 3 periods went 102-84 against them. Allen's -19 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/03 vs OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 115, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 29 free throws a game; Booker at 28 and Durant at 25 a game. Without Gordon (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 110, shooting 52 percent and 43 from three, 19 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 32 and Holmgren at 22 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, OKC at 43 percent from three to Phoenix's 35 and the line, where Phoenix takes 29 free throws a game to OKC's 19. Call it OKC 118, Phoenix 114, Phoenix keeping it close.
3/05 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 104, shooting 53 percent and 39 from three, 17 free throws a game; Jokić at 26 and Porter Jr. at 22 a game. That is 5 straight wins. 2 days' rest. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 114, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 28 free throws a game; Booker at 26 and Durant at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the line, where Phoenix takes 28 free throws a game to Denver's 17 and the defense, Denver allowing 104 a night to Phoenix's 114. Call it Denver 116, Phoenix 110.
3/07 vs TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 112, shooting 44 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Booker at 27 and Durant at 26 a game. Without Booker (2 straight), Okogie (2 straight). One day's rest. Toronto comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 125, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Barrett at 22 and Quickley at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Brown (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-4 a night and Toronto minus-6 and the defense, Phoenix allowing 112 a night to Toronto's 125. Call it Phoenix 120, Toronto 112.
3/09 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Durant at 29 and Beal at 18 a game. Without Booker (3 straight), Okogie (3 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 103, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 20 free throws a game; Brown at 29 and Tatum at 26 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-10 a night and Phoenix plus-3 and the turnovers, Phoenix giving it away 15 times a game to Boston's 11. Call it Boston 116, Phoenix 112, Phoenix keeping it close.
2/23 vs PHX 114-110 — HOU notes
HOU won 114-110. HOU shot 40% (37 of 93) to PHX's 40%, 15 of 45 from three. VanVleet led with 23 (7 of 15, 6 of 14 from three); Smith Jr. added 22, Sengun 17. The hinge was Q2, 37-24: HOU came in trailing by 8 and left it ahead by 5.
2/25 vs OKC 110-123 — HOU notes
HOU lost 110-123. HOU shot 41% (38 of 93) to OKC's 47%, 16 of 41 from three, and went to the line 23 times to OKC's 15 — 18 points from the stripe to their 14. HOU turned it over 18 times to OKC's 9, and OKC turned those into 12 steals. Smith Jr. led with 20 (6 of 15, 4 of 9 from three); VanVleet added 20, Sengun 19. Q1 was theirs, 34-31, but the other 3 periods went 92-76 against them. They led by as many as 16. Brooks's -20 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/27 @ OKC 95-112 — HOU notes
HOU lost 95-112. HOU shot 39% (37 of 95) to OKC's 47%, 9 of 39 from three. Sengun led with 23 (8 of 13, 7 of 12 at the line); Smith Jr. added 18, Ja. Green 16. Q1 was theirs, 29-28, but the other 3 periods went 84-66 against them. VanVleet's -17 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/29 @ PHX 105-110 — HOU notes
HOU lost 105-110. HOU took 10 more shots (99 to 89), fed by 19 offensive rebounds, but shot 33% to PHX's 40%, 11 of 45 from three, and got to the line 31 times to PHX's 37. Ja. Green led with 34 (10 of 28, 7 of 17 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); VanVleet added 21, Whitmore 14. Q4 was theirs, 30-24, the deficit cut from 11 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 86-75 against them. Sengun's -17 in 23 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/02 @ PHX 118-109 — HOU notes
HOU won 118-109. HOU shot 44% (42 of 96) to PHX's 46%, 16 of 42 from three. HOU turned it over 12 times to PHX's 19. Ja. Green led with 34 (12 of 23, 6 of 12 from three); VanVleet added 24, Sengun 21. The hinge was Q1, 38-19: from level to 19 ahead. Brooks was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
3/05 vs SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 113, shooting 39 percent and 32 from three, 26 free throws a game; Ja. Green at 22 and VanVleet at 19 a game. Without Tate (2 straight). 2 days' rest. San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 42 from three, 19 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 25 and Vassell at 21 a game. One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, San Antonio at 42 percent from three to Houston's 32 and the line, where Houston takes 26 free throws a game to San Antonio's 19. Call it Houston 116, San Antonio 112, San Antonio keeping it close.
3/06 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 111, shooting 41 percent and 30 from three, 22 free throws a game; Ja. Green at 24 and Sengun at 23 a game. Without Tate (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Leonard at 24 and George at 22 a game. Without Westbrook (2 straight), Tucker (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-1 a night and the Clippers minus-3. Call it Houston 113, the Clippers 112, the Clippers keeping it close.
3/08 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 109, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Simons at 25 and Grant at 15 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Sharpe (24 straight), Ayton (4 straight), Henderson (7 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 111, shooting 42 percent and 31 from three, 21 free throws a game; Ja. Green at 24 and Sengun at 24 a game. One day's rest.
So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Portland giving it away 17 times a game to Houston's 10 and the arc, Portland at 38 percent from three to Houston's 31. Call it Portland 112, Houston 111, Houston keeping it close.
3/10 @ SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 120, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 17 free throws a game; Fox at 32 and Monk at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. 2 days' rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 110, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Ja. Green at 27 and Sengun at 23 a game. Without Je. Green (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-8 a night and Houston plus-1 and the defense, Houston allowing 110 a night to Sacramento's 120. Call it Sacramento 116, Houston 115, Houston keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
HOUAH A. Holiday
AS A. Sengun
AT A. Thompson
CW C. Whitmore
DB D. Brooks
FV F. VanVleet
JG J. Green
JL J. Landale
JS J. Smith Jr.
JG Ja. Green
PHXBB B. Beal
BB B. Bol
DB D. Booker
DE D. Eubanks
GA G. Allen
JN J. Nurkić
JO J. Okogie
KD K. Durant
NU Nurkic
RO R. O'Neale
SL S. Lee
TM T. Maledon
TY T. Young
HOU/PHX the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Green, VanVleet lead Rockets past Suns, 118-109. Phoenix star Booker injures ankle
PHOENIX -- — Jalen Green scored 34 points, Fred VanVleet added 24 and the Houston Rockets beat the Phoenix Suns 118-109 on Saturday night to split a two-game series.
“This is who we want to be every night,” said Green, who hit six 3-pointers.
Phoenix All-Star Devin Booker left late in the game because of a sprained right ankle when he stepped on teammate Royce O'Neale 's foot, while fellow Suns guard Bradley Beal was ejected in his return to the lineup after missing five games with a hamstring injury.
Suns coach Frank Vogel said Booker's X-rays were negative.
Beal missed more time after his ejection in the third quarter. He and Green got in a brief scuffle before they were separated. Beal was assessed two quick technicals and ejected while Green also got a technical.
Kevin Durant led the Suns with 30 points. Booker had 24 and O’Neale 20. Beal finished with seven points on 3-of-6 shooting.
“We fought, we battled back,” Vogel said. “We junked the game up like team's do to us sometimes. But it wasn't enough.”
Green shot 12 of 23 from the field, including 6 of 12 on 3-pointers. Alperen Sengun added 21 points and 10 rebounds.
The Rockets led for most of the game, but the Suns cut it to 99-98 midway through the fourth quarter on Josh Okogie 's layup. VanVleet responded with a 3-pointer to turn back the rally.
“It was good to see that fight, the physicality, I think we had that from the start,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “It was obviously night and day from last game, when we got off to a poor start. Tonight, we kind of jumped out on them.”
The Suns beat the Rockets 110-105 on Thursday and that game featured some chippiness, too, with Booker and Houston's Cam Whitmore getting into a minor altercation that ended with technical fouls for both players.
“It’s a good lesson,” Vogel said. “These little baseball series within the 82 game season. You beat a team one game, they're going to have the psychological advantage and come back hungrier."
The Rockets jumped out to a 38-19 lead after one quarter and led 54-44 at halftime. Green scored 17 points in the first half while VanVleet and Sengun — who was ejected Thursday after arguing with officials — added 13 before the break.
“Got to give Houston credit — they came out with a lot of urgency and they were able to cruise to a win,” Durant said.
The Suns had 11 turnovers in the first half and shot just 38.6% from the field. It was a rough night for the Suns on the injury front. Starting center Jusuf Nurkic left also left the game with a neck sprain while O'Neale also sprained his ankle in the collision with Booker.
Former Phoenix great Amare Stoudemire was inducted into the Suns' Ring of Honor at halftime. He played eight seasons with the Suns from 2002-10 and made five All-Star teams.