Houston Rockets at Phoenix Suns

· National Basketball Association

Houston Rockets

49-26, 22-15 Away

Final
148 - 109

Phoenix Suns

35-40, 23-15 Home

Rockets rout Suns 148-109 as Phoenix star Durant leaves with ankle injury

KD limps to locker room after rolling ankle

Durant fell to the floor with 6:57 left in the third quarter after he stepped on Rockets Jabari Smith Jr.‘s foot. Durant got to his feet, but could not put weight on his left leg. Suns coach Mike Budenholzer said Durant will have an MRI on Monday and will not accompany the team to Milwaukee for a game Tuesday night.

Durant finished with 11 points in 23 minutes, but the Rockets were already well ahead, having taken a 78-49 lead at halftime. Houston (49-26) has won 12 of its last 13 and is second in the Western Conference standings, two games ahead of Denver.

Alperen Sengun had 16 points and nine rebounds and rookie Amen Thompson had 12 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists for the Rockets. Neither played in the fourth quarter as Houston led by 42 points.

Devin Booker scored 28 points for the Suns, who fell two games behind Dallas for the final play-in spot in the West with six games remaining. It was Phoenix’s third loss in a row.

Rockets forward Dillon Brooks was ejected i n the second quarter after a brief shoving match with Durant. He was assessed two technical fouls while Durant and Nick Richards each received one.

Takeaways Rockets: The Rockets are 12-4 in March with a game remaining.

Suns: Own the tiebreaker against the Mavericks based on winning the season series from Dallas. But with or without Durant, five of their last six games are against playoff teams.

Key moment After Brooks’ ejection, Houston outscored Phoenix 23-11 the rest of the half to lead by 29 at the break.

Key stat Phoenix committed 19 turnovers leading to 34 Houston points.

Up next The Rockets are at the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night. The Suns are at Milwaukee on Tuesday night.

Regular Season Series

HOU wins series 3-0

Recent Plays

4th 0.0	End of Game	148 - 109
4th 0.0	End of the 4th Quarter	148 - 109
4th 15.0	shot clock turnover	148 - 109
4th 37.0	Jae'Sean Tate defensive rebound	148 - 109
4th 40.1	Bol Bol misses 22-foot three point pullup jump shot	148 - 109

Statistics

HOU		PHX
56-98	FG	42-87
57	Field Goal %	48
18-31	3PT	10-32
58	Three Point %	31
18-25	FT	15-17
72	Free Throw %	88
45	Rebounds	39
13	Offensive Rebounds	10
32	Defensive Rebounds	29
37	Assists	25
14	Steals	8
4	Blocks	5
9	Turnovers	19
1	Team Turnovers	0
10	Total Turnovers	19
2	Technical Fouls	2
2	Total Technical Fouls	2
0	Flagrant Fouls	0
8	Points Conceded Off Turnovers	34
32	Fast Break Points	8
66	Points in Paint	58
15	Fouls	21
42	Largest Lead	3

Phoenix Suns Injuries

NAME, POS	STATUS	DATE
Luke Kennard, G	Day-To-Day	Oct 16
Oso Ighodaro, F	Day-To-Day	Oct 14
Collin Gillespie, G	Day-To-Day	Oct 14
Miles Bridges, F	Day-To-Day	Oct 14
Jalen Green, G	Day-To-Day	Oct 14