On the verge of crisis with three defeats in a row and a negative record on Christmas Eve, the Suns found some color last night by winning fairly well over the Rockets (129-113). A success marked by Kevin Durant's 18th career triple-double, who even set a career record in passing.
It is precisely Kevin Durant who sees Jusuf Nurkic in a mouse hole for the first big dunk of the evening. The Suns are still lax in defense, but there is movement in attack, and Eric Gordon makes the difference on his first step. In Houston, Fred VanVleet is easy, but his Rockets suffer a 9-0 in the middle of the first quarter which hurts (23-14). The Allen-Booker duo combine well and after twelve minutes, Phoenix leads 30-24.
After a quarter of making others play, Kevin Durant moves on to finishing. A pull-up jumper to warm up the arm, then a big dunk in traffic. The Suns are already 16 points ahead (49-33). The presence of Udoka Azubuike stabilizes the defense, and Eric Gordon takes care of punishing his former teammates with 3-pointers, but also by covering Jalen Green twice in a row!
Phoenix plays its basketball, and at the break, there is an 18-point lead (73-55). Kevin Durant is already at 10 points, 5 rebounds and 10 assists. This is his record for passes in a half.
Eric Gordon has fun
Houston's defense has taken on water, and the Suns are responsible for managing their lead which fluctuates between 15 and 20 points. Well served by Kevin Durant, Udoka Azubuike goes to smash Alperen Sengun for one of the “poster dunks” of the evening (88-72). The Turk responds with 3-pointers but the Suns calmly master their subject with Devin Booker who took over from Durant, passing and finishing (101-82).
The Rockets take advantage of a crazy offensive rebound sequence from Jock Landale to wake up their audience, and return to -13 (116-103). But Kevin Durant, again and again, air-conditions the room. Author of a triple-double, “KD” launches an 8-0 to give a 21-point lead with one minute to go. The mass is said and the Suns find a balanced record (15v-15d).
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Career record. With 16 assists, Kevin Durant set a personal best, and he picked up his 18th career triple-double with 27 points, 10 rebounds and therefore 16 assists. He adds 2 interceptions and 1 block, for an ultra-complete performance. We will remember his first quarter where he essentially tried to make others play.
– Zone defense. After the catastrophic performance against the Mavericks, there is improvement in defense, and Frank Vogel notably relied on a sort of 2-1-2 zone with Jusuf Nurkic or Udoka Azubuike in the center of the racket. The Rockets failed to find the holes with access to the inner circle.
– Houston grimaces. Already deprived of Dillon Brooks, injured in the abdominal belt, the Rockets lost Jabari Smith Jr. in the 3rd quarter. A nasty sprained ankle forced him to leave his teammates.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
