The Suns showed their quality as a team by beating the Rockets comfortably, and the result of this game was not unexpected.
In the first quarter of the game, the Suns led by 6 points. In the next two quarters of the game, the Suns continued to expand their score advantage.
Although the Rockets tried to launch a comeback in the final quarter, the advantage played by the Suns in front of them allowed them to win comfortably. In the game, Durant performed well, scoring 27 points, 10 rebounds and 16 assists, and successfully completed a triple-double.
Booker also contributed 20 points, four rebounds and seven assists. Gordon played well against the Rockets, scoring 27 points and three blocks.
Allen and Azubuke scored 16 and 11 points, respectively.
Before the start of the season, the Suns are undoubtedly the favorites to compete for the championship, with a strong Big Three and a deep roster.
However, the Suns have been disappointing so far, having been in 11th place in the West and have not even qualified for the play-offs. While the Suns overtook the Warriors and moved up to 10th place in the West after beating the Rockets today, their outlook is still not optimistic.
After the previous loss to the Mavericks, the Suns were full of frustration. According to reports, Durant has already thought of leaving.
Obviously, in this case, the Suns need a string of wins to stabilize the team's morale, otherwise they risk disintegrating.
Under pressure, players tend to explode.
Throughout the game, the Suns won the victory thanks to Eric Gordon's excellent performance. He put on a standout performance against his old club, the Rockets.
In the first quarter, he scored consecutive layups, but the best was in the second quarter. After Jalen Green hit a three-pointer, the Rockets had the momentum to fight back, but Gordon couldn't ignore it, he hit four three-pointers in a row in the final moment, so that the difference instantly expanded to 20 points, and the Rockets were stunned by his shooting ability.
In the first half, Gordon led the team to a 21-point blast, while Durant and Booker combined for just 19 points.
A seasoned veteran, Gordon helped the Suns in his own way when they were in danger of disintegration.
His fighting spirit is undoubtedly an inspiration, and the Suns will naturally give it their all in the next races. In the previous games, Durant's performance was a bit negative and did not show his true strength.
And in today's game against the Rockets, in fact, Durant was not offensive enough for most of the time. He was 9-of-16 from the field, and it was only in the second and final quarters that Durant began to score.
However, Durant dished out 16 assists, and that was the key to the round-faced den's explosion.
Post-game statistics showed that Durant became the fourth player in Suns history to score at least 25 points, 10 rebounds and 15 assists in a game.
He didn't give it his all on the offensive end, but he was able to organize his teammates, which is probably the ideal way for Durant to play. However, as the season progresses, Durant's style of play is not destined to last long, and he will eventually return to scoring mode.
Booker's recent performances have been very inconsistent and he often makes mistakes. This is also a big reason why the Suns lose more and win less.
In this game, Booker's performance in the first half was also a variety of iron. However, starting in the third quarter, Booker suddenly found his rhythm.
He first scored back-to-back layups and had a playback with Jalen Green. In the next round, Booker singled Eason for a layup, and a moment later, he hit a three-point shot from Jeff Green.
In the third quarter, Booker scored 11 points and led the Suns to fend off the Rockets' offense. Gordon, Durant and Booker combined for 74 points, 14 rebounds and 24 assists, and their outstanding play penetrated the Rockets' defense.
This win isn't just about winning, it's about breaking the Suns' current predicament and setting them up for future success. In this regard, Durant is confident.
Speaking after the game, he said of Gordon's performance: "Gordon's performance has been incredible, we all know he's been good and he's going to make shots. When asked about his 16 assists, Durant said: "Gordon is hot, Allen is on the move, my teammates are hitting the basketball, and I think I'm doing a good job of giving them opportunities."
It can be seen that Durant does not want to score high every game, he prefers to let his teammates score more. Then, when asked about the significance of the victory, Durant said, "I believe everybody here, I think we have the ability to turn things around, we just haven't figured it out yet, and now our pace is starting to gain strength."
It can be seen from Durant's words that he is not depressed, and the outside world's speculation is wrong. And his faith returned.
Durant's self-confidence and courage may be able to inject new impetus into the entire Suns team. Durant hopes the Suns can get back on track, even though the Suns' victory over the Rockets is not much to celebrate, after all, the Rockets are back-to-back.
Next, the Suns will face the Hornets, Magic, and Trail Blazers, all three of which will be played at home. Among them, the Magic are currently ranked 5th in the East and their strength should not be underestimated.
If the Suns can win those three games in a row, then they still have a chance of making the playoffs.