Rockets Defeat Suns 114-92 Without Durant

PHOENIX (AP) — Amen Thompson scored 28 points and Aaron Holiday added 22 off the bench as the Houston Rockets defeated the Phoenix Suns 114-92 on Monday night. This loss marked the first game of the season without star forward Kevin Durant for the Suns.

The Rockets dominated for much of the matchup, never trailing after the first quarter. By the end of the third quarter, Houston held an 84-75 lead, and the Suns were unable to narrow the gap to less than six points in the final quarter. Thompson shot 10 of 16 from the field, surpassing the 20-point mark while also contributing eight assists and seven rebounds. Holiday made six three-pointers, helping to solidify the Rockets’ advantage.

The absence of Durant, a 15-time All-Star averaging 24.6 points per game, was palpable for Phoenix. Fans had anticipated his return after previous seasons with the Suns. The offseason trade that brought Durant to Phoenix involved multiple players, including Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green, which reshaped the team’s lineup.

Dillon Brooks led the Suns with 29 points on 11 of 22 shooting. Devin Booker added 18 points, while Collin Gillespie contributed 16. Despite their efforts, the Suns shot only 41.3% from the field, while committing 20 turnovers that allowed Houston to score 26 points off those mistakes.

Houston went into halftime with a 59-50 lead, with Holiday scoring 12 points before the break. Meanwhile, Brooks and Gillespie both scored 13 for the Suns. This victory extended the Rockets’ winning streak to five games against Phoenix, and the Suns’ 92 points represented a season low.

The Rockets are set to face the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night, while the Suns will head to Sacramento to take on the Kings.