Rockets Crush Suns 148-109; Durant Exits with Ankle Injury

PHOENIX — In a disappointing game for the Phoenix Suns, the team suffered a 148-109 loss against the Houston Rockets on Sunday night, further complicating their playoff hopes. The Suns now find themselves two games behind the Dallas Mavericks for the final play-in spot in the Western Conference, with only seven games left in the regular season.

Jalen Green was the standout player for Houston, scoring 33 points. Compounding the Suns’ troubles, star forward Kevin Durant left the game due to a left ankle injury after stepping on the foot of Rockets player Jabari Smith Jr. With 6:57 remaining in the third quarter, Durant attempted to rise but was unable to put weight on his injured leg. He finished the game with 11 points in just 23 minutes.

Houston, which is second in the Western Conference standings, has now won 12 out of its last 13 games. They built a substantial lead early, going into halftime at 78-49. Alperen Sengun contributed 16 points and nine rebounds, while rookie Amen Thompson nearly tallied a triple-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists. Both Sengun and Thompson did not play in the fourth quarter as their team led by 42 points.

Devin Booker led the Suns with 28 points, but Phoenix’s struggles continued, marking their third consecutive loss. The game took a physical turn when Rockets forward Dillon Brooks was ejected in the second quarter after a confrontation with Durant, receiving two technical fouls, while Durant and teammate Nick Richards received one each.

Despite having the tiebreaker advantage over Dallas based on the season series, the Suns are facing an uphill battle as they have five of their last six games against playoff contenders. Following Brooks’ ejection, Houston outscored Phoenix 23-11 to extend their lead.

The Suns’ difficulties were compounded by 19 turnovers, which allowed the Rockets to score 34 points off those mistakes. The Rockets will next face the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, while the Suns are set to take on the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday.