Game ID: 22500346
Phoenix Suns @ Houston Rockets
Friday, December 5, 2025 at 8:00 PM ET
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
HOU 24 44 29 20 117PHX 31 27 14 26 98
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 11/26 · 1 day's restOUT Eason missed 4 since 11/16, out tonight
OUT Finney-Smith missed 15 since 10/21, out tonight
HOU availability going into 11/30 · 3 days' restOUT Durant missed 2 since 11/24, returns tonight: 30 min (82% of 36)
OUT Eason missed 5 since 11/16, out tonight
OUT Finney-Smith missed 16 since 10/21, out tonight
NEW Holiday 14 to 21 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/01 · back-to-backOUT Eason missed 6 since 11/16, out tonight
OUT Finney-Smith missed 17 since 10/21, out tonight
BACK Durant back 11/30 after 2, 30 min since (82% of 36)
NEW Holiday 14 to 22 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/03 · 1 day's restOUT Eason missed 7 since 11/16, out tonight
OUT Finney-Smith missed 18 since 10/21, out tonight
BACK Durant back 11/30 after 2, 35 min since (96% of 36)
NEW Holiday 14 to 25 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/05 · 1 day's restOUT Eason missed 8 since 11/16, out tonight
OUT Finney-Smith missed 19 since 10/21, out tonight
BACK Durant back 11/30 after 2, 34 min since (93% of 36)
NEW Holiday 14 to 25 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/06 · back-to-backOUT Eason missed 9 since 11/16, out tonight
OUT Finney-Smith missed 20 since 10/21, out tonight
BACK Durant back 11/30 after 2, 34 min since (92% of 36)
NEW Holiday 14 to 26 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/11 · 4 days' restOUT Sengun missed 2 since 12/05, returns tonight: 36 min (107% of 34)
OUT Eason missed 10 since 11/16, out tonight
OUT Finney-Smith missed 21 since 10/21, out tonight
BACK Durant back 11/30 after 2, 33 min since (91% of 36)
NEW Holiday 14 to 25 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/15 · 3 days' restOUT Eason missed 11 since 11/16, out tonight
OUT Finney-Smith missed 22 since 10/21, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 12/11 after 2, 36 min since (107% of 34)
NEW Holiday 14 to 25 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/18 · 2 days' restOUT Eason missed 12 since 11/16, out tonight
OUT Finney-Smith missed 23 since 10/21, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 12/11 after 2, 39 min since (116% of 34)
NEW Okogie 17 to 23 min over the last 5
NEW Holiday 14 to 20 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 11/26 · 1 day's restOUT Allen missed 5 since 11/16, out tonight
OUT Green missed 8 since 11/10, out tonight
OUT Dunn missed 2 since 11/23, out tonight
BACK Bouyea back 11/24 after 2, 3 min since (24% of 13)
BACK Fleming back 11/24 after 2, 8 min since (66% of 12)
PHX availability going into 11/28 · 1 day's restOUT Allen missed 6 since 11/16, out tonight
OUT Green missed 9 since 11/10, out tonight
OUT Dunn missed 3 since 11/23, out tonight
BACK Bouyea back 11/24 after 2, 11 min since (83% of 13)
BACK Fleming back 11/24 after 2, 8 min since (66% of 12)
PHX availability going into 11/29 · back-to-backOUT Allen missed 7 since 11/16, returns tonight: 26 min (91% of 28)
OUT Green missed 10 since 11/10, out tonight
OUT Dunn missed 4 since 11/23, out tonight
OUT Fleming missed 2 since 11/26, returns tonight: 4 min (32% of 12)
BACK Bouyea back 11/24 after 2, 12 min since (92% of 13)
NEW Goodwin 22 to 28 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 12/01 · 1 day's restOUT Green missed 11 since 11/10, out tonight
OUT Dunn missed 5 since 11/23, returns tonight: 21 min (110% of 19)
BACK Allen back 11/29 after 7, 26 min since (91% of 28)
BACK Bouyea back 11/24 after 2, 13 min since (97% of 13)
BACK Fleming back 11/24 after 2, 6 min since (49% of 12)
PHX availability going into 12/05 · 3 days' restOUT Green missed 12 since 11/10, out tonight
BACK Allen back 11/29 after 7, 26 min since (91% of 28)
BACK Dunn back 12/01 after 5, 21 min since (110% of 19)
BACK Bouyea back 11/24 after 2, 15 min since (112% of 13)
BACK Fleming back 11/24 after 2, 5 min since (40% of 12)
PHX availability going into 12/08 · 2 days' restOUT Green missed 13 since 11/10, out tonight
BACK Allen back 11/29 after 7, 26 min since (91% of 28)
BACK Dunn back 12/01 after 5, 19 min since (103% of 19)
BACK Fleming back 11/29 after 2, 5 min since (41% of 12)
PHX availability going into 12/10 · 1 day's restOUT Booker missed 2 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Green missed 14 since 11/10, out tonight
BACK Allen back 11/29 after 7, 28 min since (99% of 28)
BACK Dunn back 12/01 after 5, 21 min since (112% of 19)
BACK Fleming back 11/29 after 2, 5 min since (41% of 12)
PHX availability going into 12/14 · 3 days' restOUT Booker missed 3 since 12/05, returns tonight: 31 min (93% of 34)
OUT Green missed 15 since 11/10, out tonight
BACK Allen back 11/29 after 7, 27 min since (94% of 28)
BACK Dunn back 12/01 after 5, 20 min since (106% of 19)
BACK Fleming back 11/29 after 2, 6 min since (51% of 12)
NEW Bouyea 13 to 19 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 12/18 · 3 days' restOUT Green missed 16 since 11/10, out tonight
BACK Booker back 12/14 after 3, 31 min since (93% of 34)
BACK Dunn back 12/01 after 5, 19 min since (102% of 19)
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 119 a night and allowing 104, shooting 47 percent and 33 from three, 28 free throws a game; Durant at 27 and Sengun at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Eason (8 straight), Finney-Smith (19 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Brooks at 24 and Gillespie at 20 a game. Without Green (12 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-10 a night and Phoenix plus-1 and the defense, Houston allowing 104 a night to Phoenix's 115. Call it Houston 119, Phoenix 109, Houston by 10.
11/26 @ GSW 104-100 — HOU notes
HOU won 104-100. HOU shot 39% (39 of 99) to GSW's 43%, 11 of 39 from three. HOU turned it over 10 times to GSW's 16. Sheppard led with 31 (12 of 25, 4 of 12 from three); Sengun added 16, Smith Jr. 15. The hinge was Q3, 27-17: the deficit went from 12 to 2. HOU trailed 47-59 at the half and won the second half 57-41. Holiday was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
11/30 @ UTA 129-101 — HOU notes
HOU won 129-101. HOU shot 53% (46 of 87) to UTA's 44%, 11 of 31 from three, and went to the line 33 times to UTA's 15 — 26 points from the stripe to their 14. The glass went 50-33 for them. Sengun led with 27 (10 of 15, 7 of 9 at the line); Durant added 25, Smith Jr. 15. The hinge was Q3, 31-20: a lead of 19 became 30, and the lead reached 37. Sheppard was the night's best plus/minus at +33.
12/01 @ UTA 125-133 — HOU notes
HOU lost 125-133. HOU shot 44% (41 of 93) to UTA's 50%, 10 of 34 from three. Durant led with 32 (10 of 25, 2 of 7 from three, 10 of 12 at the line); Sengun added 31, Thompson 23. Q3 was theirs, 32-30, the deficit cut from 11 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 103-93 against them. Okogie's -15 in 9 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/03 vs SAC 121-95 — HOU notes
HOU won 121-95. HOU shot 53% (48 of 91) to SAC's 41%, 5 of 16 from three, and went to the line 24 times to SAC's 10 — 20 points from the stripe to their 5. The glass went 62-32 for them. Sengun led with 28 (11 of 20, 6 of 7 at the line); Durant added 24, Thompson 20. The hinge was Q3, 36-19: HOU came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 16, and the lead reached 26. HOU trailed 51-52 at the half and won the second half 70-43. Smith Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
12/05 vs PHX 117-98 — HOU notes
HOU won 117-98. HOU shot 59% (45 of 76) to PHX's 39%, 10 of 18 from three. HOU turned it over 21 times to PHX's 13, and PHX turned those into 12 steals. Thompson led with 31 (12 of 17, 6 of 6 at the line); Durant added 28, Smith Jr. 16. The hinge was Q2, 44-27: HOU came in trailing by 7 and left it ahead by 10, and the lead reached 30. Thompson was the night's best plus/minus at +33.
12/06 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 43 from three, 19 free throws a game; Flagg at 22 and Marshall at 16 a game. Without Washington (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 105, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 28 free throws a game; Durant at 27 and Sengun at 26 a game. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Eason (9 straight), Finney-Smith (20 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-11 a night and Dallas minus-1 and the defense, Houston allowing 105 a night to Dallas's 120. Call it Houston 118, Dallas 113.
12/11 vs LAC — 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 120 a night and allowing 110, shooting 52 percent and 36 from three, 26 free throws a game; Sengun at 29 and Durant at 27 a game. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Sengun (2 straight), Eason (10 straight), Finney-Smith (21 straight). 4 days' rest. The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 31 from three, 26 free throws a game; Leonard at 26 and Harden at 24 a game. Without Jones Jr. (11 straight), Miller (3 straight). 4 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-11 a night and the Clippers plus-3 and the arc, Houston at 36 percent from three to the Clippers' 31. Call it Houston 119, the Clippers 109, Houston by 10.
12/15 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 128 a night and allowing 119, shooting 54 percent and 42 from three, 25 free throws a game; Jokić at 31 and Murray at 26 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Braun (13 straight), Gordon (9 straight). 3 days' rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 112, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Sengun at 27 and Durant at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 12 a night. Without Eason (11 straight), Finney-Smith (22 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-12 a night and Denver minus-1 and the turnovers, Houston giving it away 17 times a game to Denver's 10. Call it Denver 120, Houston 116, Houston keeping it close.
12/18 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 121, shooting 49 percent and 30 from three, 23 free throws a game; Murphy III at 24 and Bey at 16 a game. Without Jordan (23 straight). 3 days' rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 111, shooting 52 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; Sengun at 28 and Durant at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 15 a night. Without Eason (12 straight), Finney-Smith (23 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-15 a night and New Orleans plus-0 and the arc, Houston at 40 percent from three to New Orleans's 30. Call it Houston 119, New Orleans 116, New Orleans keeping it close.
11/26 @ SAC 112-100 — PHX notes
PHX won 112-100. PHX shot 46% (42 of 91) to SAC's 47%, 14 of 42 from three, and went to the line 20 times to SAC's 10 — 14 points from the stripe to their 8. PHX turned it over 14 times to SAC's 19. Gillespie led with 21 (8 of 15, 4 of 9 from three); Williams added 21, Booker 19. The hinge was Q1, 41-16: from level to 25 ahead. Goodwin was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
11/28 @ OKC 119-123 — PHX notes
PHX lost 119-123. PHX shot 46% (42 of 92) to OKC's 48%, 15 of 44 from three. PHX turned it over 18 times to OKC's 10, and OKC turned those into 9 steals. The glass went 51-37 for them. Gillespie led with 24 (9 of 16, 6 of 11 from three); Booker added 21, Brooks 19. Q4 was theirs, 37-29, the deficit cut from 12 to 4, but the other 3 periods went 94-82 against them. O'Neale's -12 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/29 vs DEN 112-130 — PHX notes
PHX lost 112-130. PHX took 12 more shots (88 to 76), fed by 11 offensive rebounds, but shot 44% to DEN's 58%, 14 of 42 from three. PHX turned it over 7 times to DEN's 16. Brooks led with 27 (10 of 18, 2 of 6 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Booker added 24, O'Neale 15. Q2 was theirs, 35-33, the deficit cut from 5 to 3, but the other 3 periods went 97-77 against them. Gillespie's -23 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/01 @ LAL 125-108 — PHX notes
PHX won 125-108. PHX shot 57% (52 of 92) to LAL's 51%, 17 of 39 from three, and got to the line 8 times to LAL's 15. PHX turned it over 11 times to LAL's 21. Brooks led with 33 (15 of 26, 2 of 7 from three); Gillespie added 28, Williams 13. The hinge was Q2, 35-21: from level to 14 ahead, and the lead reached 25. Brooks was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
12/05 @ HOU 98-117 — PHX notes
PHX lost 98-117. PHX took 24 more shots (100 to 76), fed by 15 offensive rebounds, but shot 39% to HOU's 59%, 5 of 36 from three. PHX turned it over 13 times to HOU's 21. Brooks led with 23 (10 of 24, 0 of 4 from three); Bouyea added 18, Gillespie 13. Q1 was theirs, 31-24, but the other 3 periods went 93-67 against them. Allen's -29 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/08 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 118, shooting 50 percent and 42 from three, 25 free throws a game; Edwards at 28 and Randle at 21 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Hyland (3 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 116, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 19 free throws a game; Brooks at 23 and Gillespie at 20 a game. Without Green (13 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the arc, Minnesota at 42 percent from three to Phoenix's 32 and the line, where Minnesota takes 25 free throws a game to Phoenix's 19. Call it Minnesota 119, Phoenix 114.
12/10 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 112, shooting 54 percent and 44 from three, 26 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 34 and Holmgren at 21 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Dort (3 straight), Hartenstein (5 straight), Joe (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 19 free throws a game; Brooks at 24 and Gillespie at 19 a game. Without Booker (2 straight), Green (14 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the arc, OKC at 44 percent from three to Phoenix's 32 and the line, where OKC takes 26 free throws a game to Phoenix's 19. Call it OKC 121, Phoenix 111, OKC by 10.
12/14 vs LAL — 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 106 a night and allowing 120, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 18 free throws a game; Brooks at 23 and Gillespie at 15 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Booker (3 straight), Green (15 straight). 3 days' rest. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 122, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 24 free throws a game; Dončić at 35 and Reaves at 24 a game. 3 days' rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the arc, the Lakers at 40 percent from three to Phoenix's 32 and the line, where the Lakers take 24 free throws a game to Phoenix's 18. Call it Phoenix 116, the Lakers 115, the Lakers keeping it close.
12/18 vs GSW — 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 107 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 18 free throws a game; Brooks at 22 and Williams at 15 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Green (16 straight). 3 days' rest. Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 109, shooting 45 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; Butler III at 17 and Post at 14 a game. Without Kuminga (3 straight), Horford (4 straight), Richard (2 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Golden State wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Golden State at 40 percent from three to Phoenix's 32 and the defense, Golden State allowing 109 a night to Phoenix's 117. Call it Golden State 114, Phoenix 112, Phoenix keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
PHXCG C. Gillespie
DB D. Brooks
GA G. Allen
JB J. Bouyea
JG J. Goodwin
KM K. Maluach
MW M. Williams
NH N. Hayes-Davis
NR N. Richards
OI O. Ighodaro
RD R. Dunn
RF R. Fleming
RO R. O'Neale
HOUAH A. Holiday
AT A. Thompson
CC C. Capela
JD J. Davison
JG J. Green
JO J. Okogie
JS J. Smith Jr.
JT J. Tate
KD K. Durant
RS R. Sheppard
SA S. Adams
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
Durant reaches 31,000 career points as Rockets dominate Suns
HOUSTON -- — Kevin Durant had 28 points to become the eighth player in NBA history to score 31,000 career points as the Houston Rockets rolled to a 117-98 win over the Phoenix Suns on Friday night.
It was Durant's first game against his former team since a blockbuster seven-team trade that sent Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks to the Suns. Durant missed Houston's 114-92 win at Phoenix on Nov. 24 for personal reasons.
Amen Thompson scored a season-high 31 to help the Rockets to their fifth victory in six games.
Durant made two free throws for his first points of the night and hit jumper midway through the first quarter that gave the 15-time All-Star to reach the historic milestone . Durant, who didn't play in the fourth quarter, has 31,024 career points.
The Rockets trailed by as many as nine early but used a 44-point second quarter, powered by 17 points from Durant, to take the lead.
Houston was up by 11 with about 7 ½ minutes left in the third before using a 16-2 run to make it 92-67 with about two minutes left in the quarter. Thompson had six points in that stretch and Durant and Reed Sheppard both made 3-pointers for Houston. Phoenix had five turnovers during the spurt.
Brooks had 23 points to lead the Suns, who lost for the third time in four games.
Houston played without Alperen Sengun , who missed the game with an illness. Steven Adams started in his place and had four points and eight rebounds.
The Rockets played a tribute video for Brooks during pregame introductions and played one for Green, who is out due to a hamstring injury, between the first and second quarters. Both players received hearty ovations from the crowd at the end of their videos.
Green spent his first four seasons in Houston after being taken second overall by the club in the 2021 draft and Brooks spent the previous two seasons with the Rockets.
Up Next Suns: Visit the Timberwolves Monday night.