Game ID: 22501157
Houston Rockets @ Phoenix Suns
Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 11:00 PM ET
Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, AZ
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
PHX 37 20 27 21 105HOU 21 33 27 38 119
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 3/30 · 1 day's restOUT Brooks missed 17 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 13 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Coffey missed 4 since 3/21, out tonight
OUT Highsmith missed 5 since 3/19, out tonight
OUT Huntley missed 2 since 3/24, returns tonight: 2 min (22% of 10)
BACK Allen back 3/24 after 4, 22 min since (77% of 28)
BACK O'Neale back 3/24 after 3, 25 min since (89% of 28)
NEW Ighodaro 22 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Goodwin 22 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Fleming 12 to 22 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/31 · back-to-backOUT Brooks missed 18 since 2/22, returns tonight: 22 min (71% of 31)
OUT Williams missed 14 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Coffey missed 5 since 3/21, out tonight
OUT Highsmith missed 6 since 3/19, out tonight
BACK Allen back 3/24 after 4, 22 min since (77% of 28)
BACK O'Neale back 3/24 after 3, 25 min since (88% of 28)
BACK Huntley back 3/22 after 10, 3 min since (34% of 10)
NEW Ighodaro 22 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Fleming 12 to 23 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 4/02 · 1 day's restOUT Williams missed 15 since 3/05, returns tonight: 20 min (85% of 24)
OUT Coffey missed 6 since 3/21, out tonight
OUT Highsmith missed 7 since 3/19, out tonight
BACK Brooks back 3/31 after 18, 22 min since (71% of 31)
BACK Allen back 3/24 after 4, 25 min since (89% of 28)
BACK O'Neale back 3/24 after 3, 26 min since (93% of 28)
BACK Huntley back 3/22 after 10, 3 min since (34% of 10)
NEW Ighodaro 22 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Fleming 12 to 22 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 4/05 · 2 days' restOUT Coffey missed 7 since 3/21, out tonight
OUT Highsmith missed 8 since 3/19, out tonight
OUT Huntley missed 2 since 3/31, out tonight
BACK Brooks back 3/31 after 18, 25 min since (82% of 31)
BACK Allen back 3/24 after 4, 25 min since (89% of 28)
BACK O'Neale back 3/24 after 3, 24 min since (86% of 28)
BACK Williams back 4/02 after 15, 20 min since (85% of 24)
NEW Ighodaro 22 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Fleming 12 to 18 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 4/07 · 1 day's restOUT Coffey missed 8 since 3/21, out tonight
OUT Highsmith missed 9 since 3/19, out tonight
OUT Huntley missed 3 since 3/31, out tonight
BACK Brooks back 3/31 after 18, 28 min since (91% of 31)
BACK Williams back 4/02 after 15, 23 min since (97% of 24)
PHX availability going into 4/08 · back-to-backOUT Coffey missed 9 since 3/21, returns tonight: 6 min (51% of 12)
OUT Highsmith missed 10 since 3/19, out tonight
OUT Huntley missed 4 since 3/31, out tonight
BACK Brooks back 3/31 after 18, 29 min since (95% of 31)
BACK Williams back 4/02 after 15, 25 min since (104% of 24)
PHX availability going into 4/10 · 1 day's restOUT Highsmith missed 11 since 3/19, out tonight
OUT Huntley missed 5 since 3/31, returns tonight: 4 min (42% of 10)
BACK Brooks back 3/31 after 18, 30 min since (98% of 31)
BACK Williams back 4/02 after 15, 25 min since (104% of 24)
BACK Coffey back 4/08 after 9, 6 min since (51% of 12)
PHX availability going into 4/12 · 1 day's restOUT Highsmith missed 12 since 3/19, returns tonight: 10 min (93% of 11)
BACK Williams back 4/02 after 15, 24 min since (100% of 24)
BACK Coffey back 4/08 after 9, 13 min since (114% of 12)
BACK Huntley back 4/10 after 5, 4 min since (42% of 10)
PHX availability going into 4/19 · 6 days' restOUT Booker missed 2 since 4/10, returns tonight: 33 min (98% of 34)
OUT Green missed 2 since 4/10, returns tonight: 32 min (116% of 27)
OUT Goodwin missed 2 since 4/10, returns tonight: 5 min (23% of 22)
BACK Coffey back 4/08 after 9, 18 min since (153% of 12)
BACK Highsmith back 4/12 after 12, 10 min since (93% of 11)
BACK Huntley back 4/10 after 5, 17 min since (165% of 10)
NEW Fleming 12 to 19 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 3/31 · 1 day's restOUT Finney-Smith missed 2 since 3/27, out tonight
OUT Newton missed 9 since 3/13, out tonight
HOU availability going into 4/01 · back-to-backOUT Finney-Smith missed 3 since 3/27, out tonight
OUT Newton missed 10 since 3/13, out tonight
HOU availability going into 4/03 · 1 day's restOUT Finney-Smith missed 4 since 3/27, returns tonight: 9 min (56% of 16)
OUT Newton missed 11 since 3/13, out tonight
HOU availability going into 4/05 · 1 day's restOUT Newton missed 12 since 3/13, out tonight
BACK Finney-Smith back 4/03 after 4, 9 min since (56% of 16)
HOU availability going into 4/07 · 1 day's restOUT Newton missed 13 since 3/13, out tonight
BACK Finney-Smith back 4/03 after 4, 9 min since (56% of 16)
HOU availability going into 4/09 · 1 day's restOUT Finney-Smith missed 2 since 4/05, out tonight
OUT Newton missed 14 since 3/13, out tonight
HOU availability going into 4/10 · back-to-backOUT Finney-Smith missed 3 since 4/05, out tonight
OUT Newton missed 15 since 3/13, out tonight
HOU availability going into 4/12 · 1 day's restOUT Finney-Smith missed 4 since 4/05, returns tonight: 21 min (129% of 16)
OUT Newton missed 16 since 3/13, returns tonight: 12 min (100% of 12)
HOU availability going into 4/18 · 5 days' restBACK Finney-Smith back 4/12 after 4, 21 min since (129% of 16)
BACK Newton back 4/12 after 16, 12 min since (100% of 12)
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 121 a night and allowing 113, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Booker at 30 and Green at 22 a game. One day's rest. Houston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 106, shooting 51 percent and 43 from three, 22 free throws a game; Durant at 24 and Sengun at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the arc, Houston at 43 percent from three to Phoenix's 36 and the turnovers, Phoenix giving it away 14 times a game to Houston's 9. Call it Phoenix 115, Houston 114, Houston keeping it close.
3/30 @ MEM 131-105 — PHX notes
PHX won 131-105. PHX shot 50% (55 of 109) to MEM's 51%, 17 of 45 from three, and got to the line 8 times to MEM's 20. PHX turned it over 10 times to MEM's 22. The glass went 47-33 for them. Booker led with 36 (16 of 24, 4 of 6 from three); Green added 21, Ighodaro 11. The hinge was Q4, 40-16: a lead of 2 became 26. Fleming was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
3/31 @ ORL 111-115 — PHX notes
PHX lost 111-115. PHX took 9 more shots (88 to 79), fed by 11 offensive rebounds, but shot 40% to ORL's 44%, 14 of 46 from three, and got to the line 35 times to ORL's 41. PHX turned it over 20 times to ORL's 25. Booker led with 34 (8 of 16, 2 of 6 from three, 16 of 19 at the line); O'Neale added 14, Gillespie 11. Q3 was theirs, 38-24, the deficit cut from 14 to 0, but the other 3 periods went 91-73 against them. Booker's -14 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/02 @ CHA 107-127 — PHX notes
PHX lost 107-127. PHX shot 46% (42 of 91) to CHA's 52%, 16 of 39 from three. The glass went 31-47 against them. Green led with 25 (10 of 19, 3 of 6 from three); Booker added 22, Brooks 13. Q1 was theirs, 41-33, but the other 3 periods went 94-66 against them. They led by as many as 10. Allen's -16 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/05 @ CHI 120-110 — PHX notes
PHX won 120-110. PHX shot 51% (45 of 89) to CHI's 45%, 13 of 32 from three. Booker led with 30 (9 of 22, 3 of 7 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); Green added 25, Brooks 15. The hinge was Q4, 34-26: a lead of 2 became 10. Gillespie was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
4/07 vs HOU 105-119 — PHX notes
PHX lost 105-119. PHX shot 43% (32 of 75) to HOU's 45%, 7 of 31 from three, and went to the line 39 times to HOU's 16 — 34 points from the stripe to their 15. The glass went 34-55 against them. Booker led with 31 (7 of 16, 2 of 6 from three, 15 of 16 at the line); Williams added 19, Green 15. Q1 was theirs, 37-21, but the other 3 periods went 98-68 against them. They led by as many as 21. Ighodaro's -22 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/08 vs DAL — 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 115 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Booker at 31 and Green at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. Dallas comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 126, shooting 41 percent and 30 from three, 31 free throws a game; Flagg at 30 and Williams at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the defense, Phoenix allowing 115 a night to Dallas's 126 and the line, where Dallas takes 31 free throws a game to Phoenix's 23. Call it Phoenix 119, Dallas 112.
4/10 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 122, shooting 51 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; James at 21 and Hachimura at 13 a game. Without Reaves (3 straight), Smart (9 straight), Hayes (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 116, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Booker at 31 and Brooks at 15 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where the Lakers have been minus-2 a night and Phoenix minus-9 and the defense, Phoenix allowing 116 a night to the Lakers' 122. Call it Phoenix 115, the Lakers 114, the Lakers keeping it close.
4/12 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 129 a night and allowing 106, shooting 52 percent and 44 from three, 16 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 23 and Holmgren at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 113, shooting 44 percent and 32 from three, 22 free throws a game; Booker at 30 and Green at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. 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 glass, where OKC has been plus-6 a night and Phoenix minus-5. Call it OKC 119, Phoenix 106, OKC by 13.
4/19 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 114, shooting 50 percent and 43 from three, 15 free throws a game; Holmgren at 22 and Gilgeous-Alexander at 22 a game. Without Gilgeous-Alexander (2 straight), Holmgren (2 straight), Jal. Williams (2 straight). 6 days' rest. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 108, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Booker at 33 and Brooks at 16 a game. Without Booker (2 straight), Green (2 straight), Goodwin (2 straight). 6 days' rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the arc, OKC at 43 percent from three to Phoenix's 34 and the line, where Phoenix takes 21 free throws a game to OKC's 15. Call it OKC 116, Phoenix 110.
3/31 vs NYK 111-94 — HOU notes
HOU won 111-94. HOU shot 54% (42 of 78) to NYK's 42%, 15 of 35 from three. Durant led with 27 (10 of 18, 4 of 7 from three); Sheppard added 20, Thompson 17. The hinge was Q1, 37-21: from level to 16 ahead, and the lead reached 21. Durant was the night's best plus/minus at +28.
4/01 vs MIL 119-113 — HOU notes
HOU won 119-113. HOU shot 47% (41 of 87) to MIL's 47%, 18 of 42 from three, and went to the line 22 times to MIL's 16 — 19 points from the stripe to their 12. HOU turned it over 7 times to MIL's 15. Sheppard led with 27 (9 of 15, 9 of 14 from three); Sengun added 25, Durant 19. The hinge was Q1, 27-20: from level to 7 ahead, and the lead reached 20. Sheppard was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
4/03 vs UTA 140-106 — HOU notes
HOU won 140-106. HOU shot 55% (51 of 92) to UTA's 45%, 15 of 32 from three, and went to the line 30 times to UTA's 22 — 23 points from the stripe to their 15. Durant led with 25 (8 of 12, 2 of 4 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Thompson added 21, Sengun 19. The hinge was Q1, 34-22: from level to 12 ahead, and the lead reached 37. Sheppard was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
4/05 @ GSW 117-116 — HOU notes
HOU won 117-116. HOU shot 55% (44 of 80) to GSW's 50%, 13 of 29 from three. Durant led with 31 (10 of 17, 3 of 6 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Sengun added 24, Smith Jr. 23. The hinge was Q3, 37-29: a lead of 2 became 10, and the lead reached 15. Smith Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
4/07 @ PHX 119-105 — HOU notes
HOU won 119-105. HOU shot 45% (45 of 100) to PHX's 43%, 14 of 38 from three, and got to the line 16 times to PHX's 39. The glass went 55-34 for them. Durant led with 24 (8 of 20, 5 of 9 from three); Thompson added 22, Smith Jr. 20. The hinge was Q4, 38-21: HOU came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 14. HOU trailed 54-57 at the half and won the second half 65-48. Eason was the night's best plus/minus at +29.
4/09 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 107, shooting 51 percent and 43 from three, 21 free throws a game; Durant at 25 and Thompson at 19 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Finney-Smith (2 straight). One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 117, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; Embiid at 26 and George at 23 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, Houston at 43 percent from three to Philadelphia's 35 and the defense, Houston allowing 107 a night to Philadelphia's 117. Call it Houston 119, Philadelphia 110.
4/10 vs MIN — 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 122 a night and allowing 108, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 23 free throws a game; Durant at 26 and Thompson at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Finney-Smith (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Minnesota comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Randle at 23 and Dosunmu at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Edwards (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-6 a night and Minnesota minus-7 and the defense, Houston allowing 108 a night to Minnesota's 117. Call it Houston 117, Minnesota 112.
4/12 vs MEM — 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 124 a night and allowing 113, shooting 52 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Durant at 28 and Thompson at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Finney-Smith (4 straight). One day's rest. Memphis comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 137, shooting 42 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Coward at 18 and Rupert at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. Without Spencer (2 straight), Jackson (2 straight), Small (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-10 a night and Memphis minus-13 and the defense, Houston allowing 113 a night to Memphis's 137. Call it Houston 125, Memphis 112, Houston by 13.
4/18 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 108, shooting 53 percent and 41 from three, 24 free throws a game; James at 26 and Hachimura at 17 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Reaves (5 straight), Hayes (4 straight). 5 days' rest. Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 112, shooting 50 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; Durant at 29 and Thompson at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 15 a night. 5 days' rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-15 a night and the Lakers minus-1 and the arc, the Lakers at 41 percent from three to Houston's 34. Call it the Lakers 115, Houston 114, Houston keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
PHXCG C. Gillespie
DB D. Booker
DB D. Brooks
GA G. Allen
JB J. Bouyea
JG J. Goodwin
JG J. Green
MW M. Williams
OI O. Ighodaro
RO R. O'Neale
HOUAH A. Holiday
AS A. Sengun
AT A. Thompson
CC C. Capela
JO J. Okogie
JS J. Smith Jr.
JT J. Tate
KD K. Durant
RS R. Sheppard
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
Kevin Durant scores 24 in his return to Phoenix, leads the Rockets past the Suns 119-105
PHOENIX -- — Kevin Durant scored 24 points in his return to Phoenix and the Houston Rockets rallied from an early 21-point deficit and pulled away late to beat the Phoenix Suns 119-105 on Tuesday night.
The Rockets are on a seven-game winning streak and moved into a tie with the Los Angeles Lakers for the No. 4 spot in the Western Conference playoff race.
All five Houston starters scored in double figures. Durant made 5 of 9 3-pointers.
Durant, a 16-time All-Star, was greeted with a mix of boos and cheers by Suns fans when he was announced as part of the Rockets' starting lineup. He was traded to the Rockets during the offseason after spending 2 1/2 seasons in the desert in a package that brought Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green to the Suns.
The Suns jumped out to a 26-5 lead midway through the first quarter, hitting 10 of their first 15 shots, but the Rockets cut the deficit to 57-54 by halftime. Houston led early in the third quarter but Phoenix rallied to take an 84-81 into the fourth.
Houston scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter to push back into the lead and didn’t trail again. Durant hit a 3-pointer to put Rockets up 111-96 with 4:14 left.
Devin Booker scored 31 points for the Suns. The Rockets finished with a 55-34 rebounding edge.
Durant came to the Suns in 2023 as part of a four-team trade deadline deal just hours after Mat Ishbia officially took the reins of the franchise as a majority owner. The splashy move was widely praised at the time, but the Suns were never able to advance past the second round of the playoffs during his tenure.