Today's Beijing time, the NBA's regular season is once again staged a wonderful matchup, and the Suns are at home against the Rockets.
In honor of the departed Stoudemire, the Suns hung up his No. 32 jersey, but sadly the move didn't bring them good luck. The Rockets quickly controlled the tempo of the game and held the lead all the way to a 118-109 victory over the Suns.
For the Suns, Durant scored 30 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and had three blocks; Booker contributed 24 points and five assists, and O'Neal also had 20 points and 11 rebounds;
For the Rockets, Dillon contributed 11 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists, Smith scored 14 points and grabbed 4 rebounds, Shin Kyung contributed 21 points and 10 rebounds, Jalen Green performed eye-catchingly, scoring 34 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists, and VanVleet also had 24 points, 5 rebounds and 11 assists.
At the beginning of the game, the two sides went back and forth, and the game was difficult to solve. But after the game reached 6-6, the Suns' shooting percentage began to decline, and Jalen Green and VanVleet took advantage of the situation to widen the difference.
Although Booker hit a three-pointer, the Rockets' offense was more ferocious, with Jalen Green blossoming inside and out, and VanVleet was not to be outdone, hitting another three-pointer to stretch the score to double digits for the first time.
After the Rockets led by 10 points, they went on a 10-0 run to extend the margin to 20 points in the first quarter. Bol and Booker also hit some shots in key moments, but Whitmore's back-to-back shots and free throws ended the first quarter at 38-19 and the Rockets were far ahead.
The next game of the game kicked off, and the Sun showed a tenacious ** posture. Beal and Bol's three-point firepower was like fireworks, while VanVleet's mid-range shot was like a song in the game, breaking the scoring drought for the Rockets.
Jalen Green leaps over a hundred steps, his three-pointers like arrows through the air, and Durant is just as steady and sharp. Under their leadership, the Suns narrowed the margin to single digits.
Shin Kyung swung left and right on the inside, like a fluttering brush stroke on the canvas, securing the lead for the rocket. Jalen Green's three-pointer shot against the headwind was like a touch of color in the snow. At the end of the quarter, Shin added another point on a free throw, and at halftime, the Rockets led the Suns 54-44.
The second half kicked off, with Durant scoring inside and out, and the tacit combination of Shin Kyung and Smith once again laid the foundation for the Rockets to take the lead.
Dillon's three-pointer was like a bright meteor in the starry sky, once again opening up the Rockets' lead. Booker was fouled and sent to the free throw line and made all three free throws.
Jalen Green's hand was blazing like a flame, and the outside line kept hitting, forcing the Suns to call a timeout. After the timeout, Jalen Green and Beal had a heated altercation, which led to Beal's ejection, and Jalen Green was also penalized for a technical foul.
O'Neal's two three-pointers helped the Suns close the gap, but they also drew a technical foul due to being too excited. Jalen Green and VanVleet hit another three-pointer, like a bright patch of color on the canvas, stretching the margin to double digits. At the end of the quarter, O'Neal and Saben Lee made free throws to chase points, but the Suns still trailed the Rockets 79-89.
The drums of war were sounded in the final quarter, and the Suns launched a counterattack, and O'Neal was full of firepower from the outside, hitting two three-pointers in a row. Durant and Booker also showed no weakness, and they rushed inside, quickly narrowing the score to just 3 points.
The two sides were locked in a free-throw shootout, with VanVleet and Dillon playing well from the outside, forcing the Suns to call an emergency timeout. After the timeout, the game resumed, and the two sides fought hard, however, time was no longer allowed for extravagance, and the chances of the Suns counterattacking became increasingly slim.
Dillon's free throws were steady and sharp, once again opening up a double-digit point difference, and the Suns had no choice but to send a substitute. In the end, the Rockets narrowly outscored the Suns to win the game 118-109.
Suns: Allen, Durant, Nurkic, Beal, Booker.
Rockets: Dillon, Smith, Shin Jing, Green, VanVleet.