Suns' Streak Burns in Loss to Rockets

The Phoenix Suns lost 122-121 to the Houston Rockets on Friday night.

PHOENIX -- The Phoenix Suns took their foot off the gas. 

In what was a lead as large as 16, the Suns ultimately fell short to the struggling Houston Rockets in 122-121 fashion on Friday. They saw their six-game winning streak snapped, their longest of the season. 

Missing Chris Paul (right heel soreness) and Cam Johnson (Achilles) Torrey Craig (groin), the Suns were again down some depth when they took the court. Dario Saric initially started the game but Ish Wainright also was featured in similar fashion. The two combined for 11 points. 

Prior to the game, head coach Monty Williams spoke on the constant rotation of players coming in and out of the lineup. 

“We’ve dealt with it for a minute, it just forces us to change up a little bit. When you lose this many guys, again it’s the pecking order thing and we’re trying to not put too much stress on guys in these situations, trying to put guys in a position where they can keep their same role but it’s hard when you have this many guys out so it does affect the rotation a bit," Williams said. 

"But we’re just going to try to figure it out as we go along. We have a template we try to use and then certain consequences make you change it at times but in-game and out-of-game, this is an out-of-game consequence that forces you to change it and then there can be stuff in the game that makes you adjust. I think we just have to feel it as we go along.”

Phoenix's bench finished with a high +/- of zero with the worst coming from Damion Lee, who finished -17 on the night. 

The Suns began the game by getting out to 12-2 run, but Houston quickly battled back to stick with Phoenix the rest of the way. Phoenix was very much in control until the later stages of the game.

The Rockets took 110-108 lead with five minutes remaining and the two battled back and forth until the end. 

Wild final sequence here in Phoenix. Suns blow a 16-point lead and have their six game winning streak snapped by the Houston Rockets. pic.twitter.com/SrrAHce3HZ

— Donnie Druin (@DonnieDruin) December 3, 2022

Rockets shooting guard Jalen Green tallied 30 points, the third time in five games he's hit at least 28. 

Devin Booker finished with 41, the third-straight 40-point game and his fourth on the year. 

Phoenix (52.9% from the field, 45.9% from three) shot better in both categories than Houston (49.4%, 33.3%). The Rockets show 43 free throws to Phoenix's 19.

The Suns (15-7) are on the road on Sunday in San Antonio to battle the Spurs.