Suns at Rockets
The Houston Rockets are surging toward the postseason and still have a shot at the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference as they prepare for the final two games of the regular season. The Rockets will try to secure their sixth consecutive victory when they host the West-worst Phoenix Suns on Sunday.
Houston is winning by an average of 23.8 points during its five-game winning streak and breezed past the New York Knicks 120-96 on Friday. "We're building very, very good habits no matter who we play," Rockets superstar James Harden told reporters after collecting 26 points, eight rebounds and eight assists against the Knicks. "That's our mindset. That's what we preach and that's what we've been talking about. So, it was a great job by the guys of going out there and playing four quarters like it was any other team." The Suns are still playing hard and earned their second win in three games on Friday despite shutting down leading scorer Devin Booker (ankle) for the remainder of the season. Josh Jackson picked up the slack with a season-high 35 points in the 133-126 overtime triumph over New Orleans.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBATV, FS Arizona-plus (Phoenix), AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston)
ABOUT THE SUNS (19-61): Phoenix needs to win one of its final two games - at Houston and at Dallas - to avoid the franchise's first season of fewer than 20 wins since the inaugural team went 16-66 in 1968-69 and needs to take both to match last season's total of 21 victories - its lowest total since that 1968-69 squad. Veteran guard Jamal Crawford collected 28 points and seven assists off the bench on Friday as the Suns took the home finale. "Just whatever it took," Crawford told reporters. "With it being a trying season, fans need something to hold onto. What better way than in our last home game? You saw the energy after the game, everybody's still there and it felt good. It was a good win. Whatever it took."
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (52-28): Houston finishes at Oklahoma City on Tuesday after hosting Phoenix and has no intention of taking its foot off the gas leading up to the playoffs. "It's about building habits," point guard Chris Paul told reporters. "Going into the playoffs, only having two games left, you've got to go hard. You've got to push. We can't worry about the score. Every night, right now, it's about us." Houston committed just six turnovers while rolling over the Knicks on Friday and handed out 26 assists, with Paul's 10 leading the way.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Suns rookie PF Ray Spalding recorded his first double-double on Friday with season highs of 21 points and 13 rebounds.
2. Rockets C Clint Capela pulled down double-digit rebounds in each of his last 15 games.
3. Houston owns a 10-game winning streak in the series.