The Suns and Rockets will meet for the first time this season in Houston tonight. Things have not been going smoothly for the Suns losing 5 of their last 6 games overall. Despite the tough stretch, the Suns are coming into tonight as slight favorites. Let's get into our Phoenix Suns vs Houston Rockets Prediction for tonight.
Phoenix Suns:
The Suns come into the game with a record of 14-15, averaging 114.5 points per game, ranking 16th in the NBA. They have a field goal percentage of 47.0% and are hitting 36.6% of their shots from beyond the arc.
Key player Devin Booker is expected to lead the Suns, with projections suggesting he could score 28 points, along with 5 rebounds and 7 assists. We can also expect a big game from Kevin Durant with the recent trash talk about him not deserving to be in a Suns jersey...LOL!
Phoenix has been struggling with their tempo, ranking 26th in the league, and their defensive strategy has led to them having the longest offensive possessions in the league.
Houston Rockets:
The Rockets hold a record of 15-12 and rank 20th in offensive efficiency and 5th in defensive efficiency in the NBA. They play a slow-paced game, ranking 27th in tempo.
Houston's bench players like Jeff Green, Tari Eason, and Aaron Holiday contribute significant minutes, but the starters play most of the crucial minutes.
In their last game, Alperen Sengün was a standout performer, scoring 30 points and grabbing 16 rebounds.
Game Prediction:
The Suns are slight favorites, with a spread of -1.5, suggesting a closely contested game. They have the advantage of Kevin Durant and Devin Booker being healthy and playing, which could be crucial against the young Houston team.
The Rockets, playing on the second night of a back-to-back, might face challenges against the Suns' duo. The tiredness factor could play a role in this game.
A key factor will be how both teams manage their slow tempos. With both teams recently hitting unders in their games, the prediction leans towards a lower-scoring game.
In summary, the Suns, with their talent and a bit more rest, might have the edge in this matchup, but the Rockets' recent form and defensive efficiency could make it a competitive game
Final Score
Suns 115 Rockets 111
