Rockets-Suns preview
Critical keys for Rockets to dominate Suns and extend winning streak
Mar 12, 2025, 1:51 pm
The Rockets host the Suns Wednesday night. Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images.
The Houston Rockets will look to keep their momentum going Wednesday night when they host the Phoenix Suns. Houston enters the matchup on a three-game winning streak and sits fifth in the Western Conference, while Phoenix, currently 11th, is fighting to stay in the playoff race.
The Rockets have been dominant on the glass this season, leading the West with 48.4 rebounds per game. Alperen Sengun has been a key force, averaging a double-double with 19.2 points and 10.4 rebounds. Houston has also been strong defensively, allowing just 108.9 points per game, which could be crucial against a Suns team that averages 114.5 points per contest.
Phoenix has struggled recently, dropping six of its last ten games. Despite that, the Suns remain dangerous offensively, ranking fifth in the West with 28.0 assists per game, led by Devin Booker’s 6.8 per outing. Kevin Durant has been a scoring threat as well, averaging three made three-pointers over his last ten games.
Houston has gone 6-4 in its last ten contests, holding opponents to just 110.5 points per game. Phoenix, however, has struggled defensively in that span, giving up an average of 124.5 points.
Both teams are dealing with injuries, as Houston's Fred VanVleet (ankle) and Amen Thompson (foot) are day-to-day, while Phoenix's Bradley Beal (calf) and Monte Morris (back) are also questionable.
With the Rockets looking to maintain their playoff positioning and the Suns desperate for wins, Wednesday’s clash could be a crucial battle in the Western Conference standings.
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.