Game 20: Phoenix Suns Vs. Houston Rockets Preview

Your Houston Rockets are now 15-4 and have won six of their last seven!

It’s quite amazing how they’ve done it despite the fact Dwight Howard, Patrick Beverley, Terrence Jones and now Isaiah Canaan have missed some time because of injuries that have been sustained.

Last night’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves was none the exception. This time around, the team was without James Harden at its most critical moment — down the stretch.

Harden had fouled out with about two minutes to go in the game and Kevin McHale tapped rookie guard Nick Johnson to fill the huge shoes of the Beard for the duration of the game.

Next man up!

The Rockets rallied, fought hard tooth-and-nail against the T-Wolves through regulation and also through overtime!

Then it was Johnson’s turn to shine…

Oct 13, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard Nick Johnson (3) attempts to save a ball from going out of bounds during the second quarter against the Phoenix Suns at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

He had the open-lane on the right wing, ferociously drove to the basket and made the game-winning layup with 0.8 seconds left in OT.

Nicely done, and the Rockets head back home with a smile on their faces after such a gutsy performance.

The team now positions their focus on the Phoenix Suns, a team that they’re facing for the first time this season.

They’re one of the hottest teams in the league this season and they’re doing it with high-charged offense.

They’re currently ranked 4th in the league with 105.8 points of offense per game.

That’s definitely something to raise the brows.

We will have to see if the Rockets — the league’s 3rd-ranked defense — will be provide a nice counterbalance to their attack. They are currently allowing only 94 points per game.

Oct 13, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Phoenix Suns guard

Goran Dragic

(1) scores during the first quarter as Houston Rockets forward

Kostas Papanikolaou

(16) defends at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

It’s their highly-energized back court of Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe that is the motor to their offensive engine. Dragic leads the team in points per game at 16.1 with Bledsoe closely behind at 15.5 per game. He also is the team’s assists leader averaging 5.9 per game.

These two guys are incredibly fun to watch — especially when Dragic was a Rocket — and it will be interesting to see how Jason Terry and James Harden defend these two quick, experienced guards.

Feb 23, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns power forward

Markieff Morris

(11) dribbles past Houston Rockets shooting guard James Harden (13) during the second half at US Airways Center. The Houston Rockets won the game 115-112. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

As for the Suns’ front court, Markieff Morris has been the man — averaging 15.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.40 steals. He currently leads the team in rebounds and steals.

Donatas Motiejunas will be tasked with defending Morris and it will be intriguing to see how he responds to a tougher defensive assignment than last night.

I think D-Mo will rise to occasion as he has been doing with each additional game he gets the opportunity to start in.

It will be quite appealing to see how this team responds after grinding it out with the T-Wolves last night.

Let’s hope fatigue isn’t a factor, especially with Jason Terry who played a season-high 42 minutes in that game.

This will be one entertaining game and this will likely be another that will be going down to the wire.

Three Things to Watch:

1. Rockets vs. Suns back court

2. D-Mo vs. Markieff Morris

3. If there’s any effect on Terry’s stellar level of play with increased minutes

Prediction:

105-100 in a Rockets’ win