Rockets Edge Out Suns in a Nail-Biter, 114-110 – Sky Bulletin
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In a thrilling encounter on Friday night, the Houston Rockets managed to scrape past the Phoenix Suns with a score of 114-110. It was thanks to Fred VanVleet, who scored 23 points, and rookie sensation Jabari Smith Jr., who chipped in with 22 points and an impressive 16 rebounds.
The Suns’ Kevin Durant put up a strong performance with 28 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists, despite coming off a loss in Dallas the previous night. Devin Booker contributed a notable 25 points, while Bol Bol shocked the crowd with season highs of 25 points and 14 rebounds.
Phoenix’s lineup missed key players like Bradley Beal, with a lingering left hamstring issue, and Jusuf Nurkic, out with a sprained right ankle.
Houston held a comfortable double-digit lead entering the final quarter. However, Phoenix fought back and took the lead, only to see it slip away with about five minutes remaining in the game.
Rockets’ rookie Amen Thompson went to the line and split the pair, placing Houston in front at 110-108 with 17 seconds on the clock. Following a Suns’ error fighting for the rebound, Smith had a chance to extend the lead but made only one of his two free throws, leaving the door open at a 111-108 scoreline with nine seconds left.
Devin Booker’s two free throws brought the Suns to within one point with seven seconds to go. Smith, this time, made both free throws to extend Houston’s lead to 113-110. Durant was intentionally fouled, missed the first free throw and then the Suns committed a lane violation on the second attempt.
VanVleet missed a crucial free throw with only four seconds remaining, but the Rockets secured the rebound and Alperen Sengun closed the game by making one free throw, resulting in a final score of 114-110 in favor of Houston.
The Suns tried to overturn a 13-point deficit at the beginning of the fourth, and a 10-point disadvantage was overturned by a surge, including Bol’s unexpected three-pointers that brought the game to a tie at 96.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
FAQ Section
- Who were the top performers for the Houston Rockets?
Fred VanVleet led the scoring with 23 points, while Jabari Smith Jr. not only scored 22 points but also secured 16 rebounds.
- Which Phoenix Suns players were unavailable for the game?
Bradley Beal was out due to left hamstring tightness, and Jusuf Nurkic was sidelined with a sprained right ankle.
- How did the Suns manage to close the gap in the fourth quarter?
They went on a 12-2 run, spurred by Bol Bol, who scored two three-pointers to tie the game at 96.
- What were the key moments in the closing seconds of the game?
Amen Thompson’s free throws, followed by Jabari Smith Jr.’s successful free throws, and the lane violation on Kevin Durant’s second free throw attempt were pivotal moments.
- How did the Rockets seal their victory?
Alperen Sengun’s final free throw confirmed the Rocket’s victory with a score of 114-110.
Conclusion
The Houston Rockets showed resilience and strategic poise under pressure to claim a hard-fought victory against the Phoenix Suns. Despite a late comeback attempt by the Suns, clutch performances from the Rockets’ bench, especially from Fred VanVleet and rookie Jabari Smith Jr., enabled them to maintain their lead and secure the win. As the Suns look to regroup and address their injury woes, the Rockets will aim to build on this momentum to climb the ranks in the NBA standings.
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