Suns Shoot Down Rockets

Written by Joseph Tames Wednesday, 06 January 2010 23:17

Phoenix, Ariz.—January 6, 2010. The Phoenix Suns won only their second game in seven chances when playing the tail end of back-to-backs, defeating the Houston Rockets 118-110 at US Airways Center. Last night, the Suns defeated the Kings in Sacramento 113-109. For the Rockets, it is only the second time they have given up more than 113 points in 35 regular season games.

The game resembled a playground see-saw match between to school bullies. The Suns drew first blood and continued stabbing the Rockets until Houston called a timeout at 8:39 with the score 15-10. Phoenix kept pushing the ball through the hoop until the score was 21-5. The Rockets, who were playing without Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, subbed in Carl Landry and they quickly extinguished the Suns fire. Houston outscored the Suns 28-21 in the final 8:39 of the first quarter; Aaron Brooks led the assault with 13 points. The Suns’ Channing Frye helped propel Phoenix with two quick three-pointers and 11 points overall in the first quarter as the Suns held on to a 36-33 lead.

Houston opened the second quarter with a 12-2 run, forcing Suns’ head coach Alvin Gentry to call his own time out. The Rockets continued to bomb field goals, extending their run to 23-4 for the period. The Suns, behind Amar’e Stoudemire’s 10 points and four rebounds, were able to cut the Houston lead to seven at the half.

Both teams played the third quarter like two boxers in a fight to death. The quarter represented eight lead changes and four ties. Steve Nash accounted for 27 of the Suns’ 32 points by scoring 13 and dishing out six assists for 14 points. However, Phoenix was still down 86-85 with 12 minutes left in the game.

The Suns’ Leandro Barbosa hit a layup to break a 90-90 tie with 10:47 left and the Suns never lost the lead. Five minutes later, the lead was eight points and the Rockets became more aggressive in their attack. Houston was forced to play catchup by taking 22 shots. A lot of those shots came after the Rockets grabbed 14 rebounds. Houston also turned the ball over seven times in the fourth, giving the Suns just enough breathing run to end the threat. Suns won 118-110.

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