Houston Rockets Cool Blazing Phoenix Suns 100-95

The Houston Rockets winning continues!

This time, the Phoenix Suns were up to try to test the wits of the team and they failed to do so miserably.

As well as the Suns have been playing lately, it didn’t seem to matter to the Rockets as they clamped up on defense and made it tough for the Suns to get any shots off.

It’s quite amazing — they held the Suns to 36.6 percent shooting from the field and 25 percent from behind-the-arc, definitely way below the team’s season averages.

The Rockets also held them to 95 points — 13 below what they had been averaging per game (108) going into this contest.

The Suns never took a lead in this game, it was all Rockets.

I’ll have to admit — this wasn’t the most exciting of games to watch but it was Rockets’ defense that kept me intrigued to keep my eyes on the action that’s taking place on the court.

Patrick Beverley returned to lineup for the first time since November 22nd after finally being able to heal his hamstring.

It was a joy to see him check-in with 5:02 left in the 1st quarter to much delight of Rockets’ fans.

It’s clearly obvious that he was still shooting while being hurt because he hasn’t missed a beat in that regard!

He shot 42 percent from the field (5-for-12) and 63 percent from the behind-the-arc (5-for-8). Not bad considering that he has missed nearly two weeks worth of basketball. He also threw in six rebounds to boot.

Let’s get to it!

Dec 6, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Phoenix Suns guard

Eric Bledsoe

(2) controls the ball during the fourth quarter as Houston Rockets guard

Jason Terry

(31) defends at Toyota Center. The Rockets defeated the Suns 100-95. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Jason Terry got the party started with a three-ball to put the Rockets on the board 3-0.

Although P.J. Tucker and Eric Bledsoe countered with a pull-up and layup respectively to counter close in within one, the Rockets poured it on and boosted their lead. Rockets 5, Suns 4

Things were close until James Harden led a 10-0 run that culminated with 10-point lead with 5:13 left in the first quarter. Rockets 20, Suns 10

Beverley, Harden and Nick Johnson would help push the Rockets lead by 17 with a three-pointer, free throws and a fade away jumper to end the first quarter. Rockets 35, Suns 18

It was more of the same for the 2nd quarter as the Rockets pushed their lead by as much as 21 points when Trevor Ariza sank two free throws with 9:32 left off a T.J. Warren foul. Rockets 41, Suns 20

Dec 6, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza (1) shoots during the first quarter as Phoenix Suns center

Alex Len

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

The Suns would try to get themselves back in the game but the Rockets kept applying the defensive pressure to keep them at bay.

Perhaps the highlight to this quarter was when Tarik Black slammed it home confidently putting the Rox up 48-35.

Goran Dragic was clearly frustrated that he had turned the ball over on the previous possession after Terry was able to successfully pluck a steal from him.

When Black gave up the basketball to Dragic after that slam, he seemed to push Black out of the way with the basketball, digging it in his back as hard as he could.

The refs saw that — they immediately blew their whistles and penalized him for the illegal contact.

It’s quite understandable that he did that — his team was having fits with the Rockets’ suffocating defense.

Harden unfortunately missed the tech free throw.

The Rockets would end the 1st half on top 60-41.

Dec 6, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Goran Dragic (1) drives the ball during the third quarter as Houston Rockets guard Patrick Beverley (2) defends at Toyota Center. The Rockets defeated the Suns 100-95. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Just like the 1st half, Terry hit a three right out of the gate to put the Rockets back up by 22 points with 11:09 left in the third quarter. Rockets 63, Suns 41

The Rockets very much so maintained control of the game and the closest the Suns got was 11 points when Gerald Green hit a three-pointer with 3:13 left in the third. Rockets 71, Suns 60

The team would continue to coast and lead the Suns by 13 at the end of the third 80-67.

At the start of the 4th quarter, the Rockets started to become quite lackadaisical and started getting sloppy with their play.

The team defense started to wane a bit allowing the Suns to get a little closer.

They seemed to be standing around, watching the Suns move the ball around and take shots.

The difference was they started making them again with unfettered access to the rim.

Toward the end of the game, it got close but the Rockets didn’t really seemed concerned about it.

The Suns went on a 6-1 run ending with a Marc Morris three-pointer closing the Suns’ gap to five. Rockets 96, Suns 91

Beverley was then fouled by Bledsoe and he connected one of out two at the free throw line putting the Rockets up 97-91.

On the next possession, Bledsoe missed a layup but Tucker was able to get the offensive rebound and tip the basketball back in to put the Suns within four. Rockets 97, Suns 93

Dec 6, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) drives the ball during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

But Beverley did it the Harden way by drawing two shooting fouls down the stretch, connecting on three out of four opportunities.

Bledsoe would dunk the ball on the Suns’ second-to-last possession with 8.3 seconds left but it would be too little too late as Tucker made a bad pass after a Bledsoe rebound on their next possession with 1.2 seconds left.

In between, Green fouled Johnson but he was unable to convert the two free throws.

And there you have it — another Rockets’ win after an incredible defensive effort!

Ariza and Beverley lead all scorers with 19 points a piece but Harden still contributed heavily in another way with 12 rebounds and seven assists.

Harden had an off-night offensively but it’s perfectly okay since he has been carrying the load for so long up until this point.

Dec 6, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) and guard Patrick Beverley (2) after a play during the second quarter against the Phoenix Suns at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Donatas Motiejunas threw 16/11 in 34 minutes of action.

Tarik Black chipped in 10 boards while Terry was a perfect 3-for-3 from behind-the-arc.

There was no particular player that stood out from this performance, it was collaborative effort as it should be for a basketball team.

Another game, another win!