Rockets at Suns
THE STORY: The Phoenix Suns seek to continue their torrid play when they host the Houston Rockets on Sunday. Phoenix became only the fourth team to sweep a back-to-back-to-back by defeating the Detroit Pistons on Friday and moved to .500 for the first time since early January. Phoenix has won 10 of 13 games. Houston is 1 1/2 games ahead of Phoenix for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference after losing to the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Houston, Fox Sports Arizona (Phoenix)
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (24-21): Goran Dragic had a career-high 14 assists in the loss to the Clippers as he does his best to replace injured point guard Kyle Lowry. Dragic had two straight double-digit outings and is averaging 9.4 assists in five starts since replacing Lowry. The Rockets acquired veteran Derek Fisher from the Los Angeles Lakers to provide support for Dragic, but Fisher still hasn’t reported to the squad. “If he was here, he’d play,” Rockets coach Kevin McHale said. “I haven’t seen him yet. I have not talked to him.” Shooting guard Kevin Martin (shoulder) has missed three straight games.
ABOUT THE SUNS (22-22): Phoenix hasn’t had a four-game winning streak all season. Sunday’s game is doubly crucial for the Suns because 12 of their following 15 games are on the road beginning with Tuesday’s game in Miami. “We are .500 and we are ecstatic about that but we still got a lot of work to do,” Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. “We know that we have very little margin for error. We know we are still going to have to put together some wins and do it on the road because of some of the things we let slip away at home. We understand all that.”
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Phoenix has won 15 of the last 23 meetings but Houston is 2-0 against the Suns this season.
2. Suns guard Steve Nash is averaging 13.7 assists over his last six contests.
3. Courtney Lee scored a season-high 25 points in Houston’s loss to the Clippers.