Suns at Rockets
The Houston Rockets had a four-game winning streak come to an end on Friday but got another big performance out of All-Star snub Chris Paul. The Rockets will try to start another winning streak when they begin a two-game homestand by hosting the Phoenix Suns on Sunday.
Paul, who was one of the more notable absences when All-Star reserves were announced on Tuesday, went 11-of-19 from the floor, including 4-of-5 from 3-point range, and finished with a season-high 38 points and eight assists in the 115-113 loss at the New Orleans Pelicans. The 30-plus effort was the third in the last eight outings for Paul, who hit that mark once in his first 22 games. Paul only managed 11 points at Phoenix on Nov. 16, but Houston exploded for a franchise-record 90 points in the first half and breezed to a 142-116 victory. The Suns remain last in the NBA in scoring defense while surrendering an average of 112.1 points and were barely in the game after the break while suffering a 107-85 loss to the New York Knicks on Friday.
TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, NBATV, FS Arizona (Phoenix), AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston)
ABOUT THE SUNS (17-32): Phoenix dropped three straight and six of its last seven and the frustration got to star guard Devin Booker on Friday. Booker was called for a technical foul for throwing a basketball off the stanchion, was called for a flagrant foul for pulling Knicks guard Tim Hardaway Jr. down by grabbing his jersey and was finally ejected after shoving New York center Enes Kanter, who stared him down after blocking a layup attempt. “When a guy blocks your shot and he not only stares at him, but he walks up to him, obviously Booker is smart enough to know he’s trying to get in his head but it’s hard not to react in that situation,” Suns point guard Tyler Ulis explained to the Arizona Republic.
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (34-13): All-Star guard James Harden leads the NBA in scoring at an average of 31 points but has not reached 30 in five games since returning from a hamstring injury. Harden went 5-of-16 from the floor in Friday's loss and knocked down only one of his nine 3-point attempts. Harden sat out a 112-97 win at Phoenix on Jan. 12 but was at his best in the Nov. 16 meeting, when he exploded for 48 points and went 18-of-18 from the free-throw line.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Suns PF Marquese Chriss (hip) returned from a six-game absence on Friday and went 1-of-12 from the floor in 20 minutes.
2. Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni will coach Team Steph, which includes Harden, in the All-Star Game.
3. Houston SG Eric Gordon is 8-of-14 from 3-point range in the last two games after going 0-of-16 in the previous two contests.