HOUSTON -- The Rockets have long been rumored as a potential trade suitor for veteran Suns star Devin Booker, but emerging fourth-year star Jalen Green was the superior shooting guard in Wednesday's 111-104 victory (box score) over Phoenix.
With the victory, Houston (41-25) extended its winning streak to four games while remaining at No. 5 in the tightly packed Western Conference standings. The Rockets are closing in on their first berth in the NBA playoffs since 2020.
Meanwhile, at 30-36 and No. 11 in the West, the Suns are in danger of missing out on the play-in tournament -- which requires finishing in the top 10 -- and potentially handing Houston (which controls the Suns' NBA draft capital in the 2025, 2027, and 2029 first rounds) a lottery selection this June. Thus, for the Rockets, it was a win with both short- and long-term benefits.
Jalen Green led the Rockets with 29 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals while shooting 50% from the field (8-of-16) and from 3-point range (50.0%). He also got to the free-throw line 11 times and made 10 of them (90.9%).
That easily outpaced his counterpart, Booker, who had 19 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds. Six of those points came in cosmetic fashion during the final six minutes of the fourth quarter, when the game's result was no longer in doubt.
Other statistics of note included:
Veteran guard Fred VanVleet (right ankle strain) returned to Houston's lineup for just the second time since Feb. 1, though second-year standout Amen Thompson (left ankle sprain) remains sidelined.
With VanVleet leading the way, Houston committed only nine turnovers compared to 16 for Phoenix. Outside of Alperen Sengun (five), the remaining 11 players for the Rockets had only four turnovers, combined -- including zero by VanVleet.
Veteran centers Steven Adams (Rockets) and Mason Plumlee (Suns) were both ejected after a first-half scuffle, which resulted in each also receiving a technical foul.
Houston's six-game homestand, which is its longest of the 2024-25 NBA season, enters its back half with Friday's matchup versus the Dallas Mavericks (33-34). In a matchup of in-state, Southwest Division rivals, tipoff from Toyota Center is at 7:00 p.m. Central.
More: After weeks of ankle issues, veteran guard Fred VanVleet rejoins Houston's starting lineup