Amen Thompson led the Houston Rockets with 28 points, adding eight assists and seven rebounds, as Houston defeated the Phoenix Suns 114-92 on Monday night at Mortgage Matchup Center. Aaron Holiday contributed 22 points off the bench, making six 3-pointers in the Rockets’ first game without Kevin Durant this season.
The Rockets dominated from the opening minutes, never trailing after an early first-quarter deficit, and carried an 84-75 lead into the fourth quarter. Houston improved to 11-4, snapping a one-game skid from Friday’s loss to Denver.
Durant, averaging a team-high 24.6 points per game, missed the contest for personal reasons, delaying his return to Phoenix where he spent the previous two and a half seasons. Despite his absence, Houston’s balance on offense kept the Suns at bay throughout the game.
Dillon Brooks led the Suns with 29 points on 11-of-22 shooting, while Devin Booker added 18 points and Collin Gillespie chipped in 16. Phoenix shot 41.3% from the field and committed 20 turnovers, allowing Houston to convert those into 26 points.
The Rockets built a nine-point halftime lead at 59-50, with Holiday scoring 12 points before the break. Thompson and Holiday’s scoring helped Houston extend the margin to as many as 22 points, and the Suns never got closer than six in the fourth quarter.
This game marked Houston’s fifth consecutive victory over Phoenix, and the Suns’ 92 points were a season low. Jabari Smith Jr. added 17 points for the Rockets, while Alperen Sengun scored 18 with five rebounds and five assists.
Houston will visit the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night, while Phoenix travels to Sacramento to face the Kings in their next matchup.
