Game ID: 22400949
Phoenix Suns @ Houston Rockets
Wednesday, March 12, 2025 at 8:00 PM ET
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
HOU 32 25 31 23 111PHX 27 25 27 25 104
HOU vs PHX ScoutingHOU vs 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.
HOU availability going into 3/04 · back-to-backBACK VanVleet back 3/01 after 11, 35 min since (97% of 36)
BACK Adams back 2/26 after 2, 13 min since (90% of 15)
BACK Dante back 3/03 after 60, 19 min since (146% of 13)
NEW Jef. Green 12 to 18 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 3/06 · 1 day's restOUT VanVleet missed 2 since 3/03, out tonight
BACK Adams back 2/26 after 2, 14 min since (95% of 15)
BACK Dante back 3/03 after 60, 19 min since (146% of 13)
NEW Sheppard 12 to 17 min over the last 3
HOU availability going into 3/08 · 1 day's restOUT VanVleet missed 3 since 3/03, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 2 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 2 since 3/04, returns tonight: 6 min (51% of 12)
BACK Adams back 2/26 after 2, 15 min since (103% of 15)
NEW Thompson 32 to 37 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 3/10 · 1 day's restOUT VanVleet missed 4 since 3/03, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 3 since 3/04, out tonight
BACK Landale back 3/08 after 2, 6 min since (51% of 12)
NEW Thompson 32 to 38 min over the last 4
NEW Sheppard 12 to 19 min over the last 3
HOU availability going into 3/12 · 1 day's restOUT VanVleet missed 5 since 3/03, returns tonight: 28 min (77% of 36)
OUT Dante missed 4 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 2 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Landale back 3/08 after 2, 4 min since (35% of 12)
HOU availability going into 3/14 · 1 day's restOUT Thompson missed 2 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 5 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 3 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK VanVleet back 3/12 after 5, 28 min since (77% of 36)
BACK Landale back 3/08 after 2, 6 min since (49% of 12)
HOU availability going into 3/15 · back-to-backOUT Thompson missed 3 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 6 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 4 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK VanVleet back 3/12 after 5, 26 min since (74% of 36)
BACK Landale back 3/08 after 2, 10 min since (86% of 12)
HOU availability going into 3/17 · 1 day's restOUT Thompson missed 4 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 7 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 5 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK VanVleet back 3/12 after 5, 29 min since (82% of 36)
BACK Landale back 3/08 after 2, 10 min since (86% of 12)
HOU availability going into 3/19 · 1 day's restOUT Thompson missed 5 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Whitmore missed 2 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 8 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 6 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK VanVleet back 3/12 after 5, 31 min since (88% of 36)
NEW Eason 24 to 32 min over the last 4
PHX availability going into 3/04 · 1 day's restOUT Morris missed 9 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Beal back 3/02 after 2, 34 min since (104% of 32)
BACK Ighodaro back 2/23 after 4, 2 min since (9% of 17)
BACK Gillespie back 2/23 after 2, 6 min since (45% of 14)
NEW Bol 12 to 24 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/07 · 2 days' restOUT Morris missed 10 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Beal back 3/02 after 2, 24 min since (75% of 32)
BACK Ighodaro back 2/28 after 2, 2 min since (10% of 17)
NEW Bol 12 to 24 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/09 · 1 day's restOUT Dunn missed 2 since 3/04, returns tonight: 2 min (8% of 19)
OUT Ighodaro missed 2 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 11 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Beal back 3/02 after 2, 30 min since (92% of 32)
NEW Bol 12 to 21 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/10 · back-to-backOUT Ighodaro missed 3 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 12 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Beal back 3/02 after 2, 29 min since (92% of 32)
BACK Dunn back 3/09 after 2, 2 min since (8% of 19)
NEW Bol 12 to 18 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/12 · 1 day's restOUT Ighodaro missed 4 since 3/04, returns tonight: 28 min (166% of 17)
OUT Morris missed 13 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Beal back 3/02 after 2, 29 min since (92% of 32)
BACK Dunn back 3/09 after 2, 1 min since (5% of 19)
NEW Plumlee 18 to 24 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/14 · 1 day's restOUT Morris missed 14 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Dunn back 3/09 after 2, 6 min since (33% of 19)
BACK Ighodaro back 3/12 after 4, 28 min since (166% of 17)
PHX availability going into 3/16 · 1 day's restOUT Allen missed 2 since 3/12, out tonight
OUT Richards missed 2 since 3/12, returns tonight: 19 min (85% of 23)
OUT Morris missed 15 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Dunn back 3/09 after 2, 13 min since (68% of 19)
BACK Ighodaro back 3/12 after 4, 30 min since (177% of 17)
PHX availability going into 3/17 · back-to-backOUT Allen missed 3 since 3/12, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 16 since 2/11, returns tonight: 6 min (43% of 13)
BACK Richards back 3/16 after 2, 19 min since (85% of 23)
BACK Dunn back 3/09 after 2, 15 min since (79% of 19)
BACK Ighodaro back 3/12 after 4, 28 min since (163% of 17)
PHX availability going into 3/19 · 1 day's restOUT Allen missed 4 since 3/12, out tonight
BACK Richards back 3/16 after 2, 16 min since (69% of 23)
BACK Ighodaro back 3/12 after 4, 28 min since (161% of 17)
BACK Morris back 3/17 after 16, 6 min since (43% of 13)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Sengun at 20 and Brooks at 18 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without VanVleet (5 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 124, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 23 free throws a game; Durant at 29 and Booker at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Ighodaro (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 110 a night to Phoenix's 124. Call it Houston 119, Phoenix 112.
3/04 @ IND 102-115 — HOU notes
HOU lost 102-115. HOU took 12 more shots (98 to 86), fed by 24 offensive rebounds, but shot 41% to IND's 51%, 9 of 30 from three, and went to the line 26 times to IND's 10 — 13 points from the stripe to their 10. The glass went 58-35 for them. Sengun led with 25 (12 of 19); Eason added 16, Thompson 13. Q3 was theirs, 26-23, the deficit cut from 10 to 7, but the other 3 periods went 92-76 against them. Green's -22 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/06 @ NOP 109-97 — HOU notes
HOU won 109-97. HOU shot 57% (46 of 81) to NOP's 37%, 9 of 29 from three, and got to the line 18 times to NOP's 33. Sengun led with 22 (11 of 14); Thompson added 21, Eason 20. The hinge was Q3, 33-15: HOU came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 15. HOU trailed 56-59 at the half and won the second half 53-38. Adams was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
3/08 vs NOP 146-117 — HOU notes
HOU won 146-117. HOU shot 56% (55 of 99) to NOP's 48%, 17 of 40 from three. Brooks led with 27 (9 of 14, 7 of 11 from three); Sengun added 20, Holiday 20. The hinge was Q1, 39-28: from level to 11 ahead, and the lead reached 37. Thompson was the night's best plus/minus at +39.
3/10 vs ORL 97-84 — HOU notes
HOU won 97-84. HOU shot 39% (35 of 89) to ORL's 33%, 16 of 43 from three, and got to the line 18 times to ORL's 24. HOU turned it over 19 times to ORL's 8, and ORL turned those into 10 steals. The glass went 63-42 for them. Smith Jr. led with 20 (5 of 13, 5 of 10 from three, 5 of 7 at the line); Brooks added 17, Ja. Green 15. The hinge was Q3, 24-16: a lead of 5 became 13, and the lead reached 18. Brooks was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
3/12 vs PHX 111-104 — HOU notes
HOU won 111-104. HOU shot 45% (40 of 88) to PHX's 53%, 12 of 38 from three. HOU turned it over 9 times to PHX's 16. Ja. Green led with 29 (8 of 16, 3 of 6 from three, 10 of 11 at the line); Sengun added 20, Brooks 19. The hinge was Q1, 32-27: from level to 5 ahead, and the lead reached 17. Ja. Green was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
3/14 vs DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 103, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; Sengun at 20 and Brooks at 18 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Thompson (2 straight). One day's rest. Dallas comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 128, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Marshall at 25 and Thompson at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. Without Washington (6 straight), Davis (14 straight), Lively II (27 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-10 a night and Dallas minus-13 and the defense, Houston allowing 103 a night to Dallas's 128. Call it Houston 118, Dallas 110.
3/15 vs CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 100, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Sengun at 18 and Green at 18 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 12 a night. Without Thompson (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Chicago comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 117, shooting 47 percent and 31 from three, 23 free throws a game; White at 30 and Giddey at 25 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Ball (6 straight), Smith (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 100 a night to Chicago's 117 and the arc, Houston at 38 percent from three to Chicago's 31. Call it Houston 118, Chicago 110.
3/17 vs PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 103, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Green at 22 and Sengun at 19 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 15 a night. Without Thompson (4 straight). One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 122, shooting 47 percent and 32 from three, 23 free throws a game; Grimes at 29 and Dowtin Jr. at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Maxey (7 straight), Oubre Jr. (2 straight), Walker IV (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-15 a night and Philadelphia minus-8 and the defense, Houston allowing 103 a night to Philadelphia's 122. Call it Houston 120, Philadelphia 107, Houston by 13.
3/19 @ ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 104, shooting 44 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Banchero at 31 and Wagner at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. 2 days' rest. Houston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 107, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Green at 25 and Eason at 18 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 19 a night. Without Thompson (5 straight), Whitmore (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-19 a night and Orlando minus-8. Call it Houston 110, Orlando 108, Orlando keeping it close.
3/04 vs LAC 119-117 — PHX notes
PHX won 119-117. PHX shot 51% (41 of 80) to LAC's 52%, 14 of 34 from three. PHX turned it over 11 times to LAC's 6, and LAC turned those into 8 steals. Durant led with 34 (10 of 22, 4 of 11 from three, 10 of 10 at the line); Booker added 17, Richards 16. The hinge was Q4, 43-22: PHX came in trailing by 19 and left it ahead by 2. PHX trailed 49-65 at the half and won the second half 70-52.
3/07 @ DEN 141-149 — PHX notes
PHX lost 141-149 in 1 overtime. PHX shot 56% (51 of 91) to DEN's 59%, 16 of 38 from three, and went to the line 29 times to DEN's 18 — 23 points from the stripe to their 14. Booker led with 34 (10 of 19, 5 of 10 from three, 9 of 9 at the line); Durant added 29, Plumlee 18. Q4 was theirs, 34-23, the deficit cut from 11 to 0, but the other 4 periods went 126-107 against them. Richards's -19 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/09 @ DAL 125-116 — PHX notes
PHX won 125-116. PHX shot 58% (49 of 84) to DAL's 49%, 10 of 28 from three. PHX turned it over 11 times to DAL's 6, and DAL turned those into 8 steals. The glass went 46-32 for them. Booker led with 24 (10 of 21, 0 of 6 from three); Durant added 21, Beal 19. The hinge was Q1, 32-24: from level to 8 ahead, and the lead reached 16. Durant was the night's best plus/minus at +11.
3/10 @ MEM 118-120 — PHX notes
PHX lost 118-120. PHX shot 46% (41 of 90) to MEM's 47%, 20 of 38 from three. Durant led with 35 (11 of 24, 7 of 9 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Booker added 26, Jones 12. Q1 was theirs, 34-26, but the other 3 periods went 94-84 against them. They led by as many as 16.
3/12 @ HOU 104-111 — PHX notes
PHX lost 104-111. PHX shot 53% (39 of 73) to HOU's 45%, 10 of 28 from three. PHX turned it over 16 times to HOU's 9, and HOU turned those into 11 steals. Beal led with 25 (9 of 14, 0 of 4 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Booker added 19, Durant 19. Q4 was theirs, 25-23, the deficit cut from 9 to 7, but the other 3 periods went 88-79 against them. Beal's -15 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/14 vs SAC — 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 121 a night and allowing 123, shooting 53 percent and 42 from three, 23 free throws a game; Durant at 28 and Booker at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 120, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; DeRozan at 24 and LaVine at 23 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Sabonis (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the arc, Phoenix at 42 percent from three to Sacramento's 36. Call it Phoenix 120, Sacramento 114.
3/16 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 118, shooting 44 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Dončić at 33 and Reaves at 21 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without James (3 straight), Hachimura (8 straight), Hayes (4 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 120, shooting 53 percent and 46 from three, 22 free throws a game; Durant at 25 and Booker at 25 a game. Without Allen (2 straight), Richards (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the arc, Phoenix at 46 percent from three to the Lakers' 38. Call it the Lakers 117, Phoenix 116, Phoenix keeping it close.
3/17 vs TOR — 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 112, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 20 free throws a game; Durant at 24 and Booker at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Allen (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Toronto comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 110, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 26 free throws a game; Lawson at 19 and Barrett at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Rhoden (2 straight), Walter (5 straight), Mogbo (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the line, where Toronto takes 26 free throws a game to Phoenix's 20 and the arc, Phoenix at 41 percent from three to Toronto's 36. Call it Phoenix 114, Toronto 113, Toronto keeping it close.
3/19 vs CHI — 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 114 a night and allowing 107, shooting 48 percent and 44 from three, 19 free throws a game; Booker at 23 and Durant at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Allen (4 straight). One day's rest. Chicago comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 107, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 20 free throws a game; White at 26 and Jones at 16 a game. Without Giddey (3 straight), Ball (8 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the arc, Phoenix at 44 percent from three to Chicago's 32 and the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-5 a night and Chicago plus-1. Call it Phoenix 115, Chicago 112, Chicago keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
PHXBB B. Beal
BB B. Bol
CG C. Gillespie
DB D. Booker
DL D. Lee
KD K. Durant
MP M. Plumlee
OI O. Ighodaro
RD R. Dunn
RO R. O'Neale
TJ T. Jones
TW T. Washington Jr.
HOUAH A. Holiday
AS A. Sengun
CW C. Whitmore
DB D. Brooks
FV F. VanVleet
JG J. Green
JL J. Landale
JS J. Smith Jr.
JG Ja. Green
SA S. Adams
TE T. Eason
PHX/HOU 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 leads Rockets past Suns in game marred by fight between Adams, Plumlee
HOUSTON -- — Jalen Green had 29 points to lead the Houston Rockets to a 111-104 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night in a game where Houston’s Steven Adams and Phoenix’s Mason Plumlee were ejected for fighting.
Alperen Sengun scored 20 points and Dillon Brooks added 19 to help the Rockets extend their winning streak to four.
Bradley Beal 's two free throws got the Suns within eight with about 9 1/2 minutes to go before Houston used a 9-2 run to make it 99-84 with about seven minutes remaining. Jock Landale opened the run with a 3-point play and Brooks capped it with a layup after a turnover by Devin Booker .
Adams and Plumlee were ejected before halftime after getting into a fight where Adams wrestled Plumlee to the court
Beal had 25 points and Booker and Kevin Durant added 19 each as the Suns lost for the third time in four games.
Takeaways Suns: Phoenix trailed for double digits for most of this one, a game after going to the wire in a 120-118 loss at Memphis on Monday night.
Rockets: Fred VanVleet had 10 points in 28 minutes in his return after missing 16 games with a right ankle strain. Houston needs him to return to form quickly as the team looks to finish the regular season strong and try to move up in the standings.
Key moment The big run by the Rockets in the fourth that allowed them to pad the lead.
Key stat The Suns made just 10 3-pointers Wednesday night after they made 20, with a season-high seven from Durant, on Monday night.
Up next Both teams play Friday night. Phoenix hosts Sacramento, and Houston hosts Dallas.