Each and every game over the remainder of the 2024-25 regular season is important to the Rockets (48-26), who are close to securing a spot in the Western Conference playoffs for the first time in five years. As March winds down, Houston continues to hold the No. 2 spot in the West standings.
But Sunday’s road game against the Phoenix Suns is meaningful on multiple fronts.
Not only can the Rockets potentially take another step toward the playoffs by winning, but they could also push Phoenix (35-39, No. 11 in West standings) closer to missing out. Because Houston owns the right to swap 2025 first-round draft picks with the Suns, that could provide the Rockets with yet another lottery selection in the 2025 offseason to add to Houston’s stockpile of young talent.
Teams at 11th and below in each conference are eliminated without having the opportunity to play their way into the postseason through the NBA’s annual play-in tournament. Thus, the Rockets would love to hold the Suns right where they are.
Phoenix enters having lost its last two games, while Houston has won 11 of 12, overall.
Projected Lineups, Broadcast Info
Rockets at Suns Betting Odds:
All NBA Odds via BetMGM:
- Point spread: Rockets -1.5
- Money line: Rockets -130 / Suns +105
- Over-under: 224.5
Rockets at Suns Injury Updates:
- Rockets: Tari Eason, out, left lower leg injury management
- Rockets: Reed Sheppard, questionable, right thumb avulsion injury
- Rockets: David Roddy, out, G League (two-way)
- Rockets: N’Faly Dante, out, G League (two-way)
- Rockets: Jack McVeigh, out, G League (two-way)
- Rockets: Nate Williams, out, G League (on assignment)
- Suns: Bradley Beal, out, left hamstring strain
- Suns: Jalen Bridges, out, G League (two-way)
- Suns: TyTy Washington Jr., out, G League (two-way)
Prediction and Picks for Rockets at Suns:
When the Rockets and Suns last met in Houston, the teams combined for only 215 points in a seven-point win for the home team. While Phoenix is defensively challenged in terms of talent, they’re likely to play hard with their playoff lives potentially on the line.
Meanwhile, the Rockets could perhaps be looking ahead to a high-profile matchup a night later in Los Angeles against the star-studded Lakers (44-29). A related indicator is Houston’s choice to hold out Tari Eason, who was brilliant in a victory over the Suns last month, until the Los Angeles game (Eason sits out half of all-back-to-backs for maintenance purposes).
We’ll take the under and for Phoenix to finally get its first victory against Houston in three tries. With Eason unavailable and Thompson perhaps a bit limited after a recent ankle sprain, that could make it a big night for Devin Booker. (Dillon Brooks is often the primary defender on Kevin Durant).
Jalen Green had his way with Booker in the meeting two-and-a-half weeks ago, and the Suns veteran would undoubtedly love to get some revenge in the rematch from Phoenix.
Best Bet: Suns +105
Favorite Prop: Devin Booker, over 24.5 points (-105)
Prediction: 112-109, Suns
More: ESPN’s Carlos Boozer makes case for Rockets as West’s second-best team
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