Booker takes over at 93-93
Phoenix had been sitting on a 19-point first-half lead that evaporated, and the game was level at 93-93 with 4:24 to play when Devin Booker stepped in. A 17-footer broke the tie. A step-back jumper, a three-pointer and a driving layup followed, and the Suns led 102-95 with 2:30 left. Booker finished with a game-high 24 points in the 102-99 win on Saturday night.
Kevin Durant kept Houston alive with a three that cut the margin to three, but his attempt to tie from deep with 10.6 seconds left came up short. Durant had 21 points and 10 rebounds on 5-for-14 shooting and missed six of seven threes.
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The win mattered beyond the standings: Phoenix snapped an eight-game losing streak against Houston.
How the lead disappeared and came back
The Suns shot 16 of 21 in the first quarter, including 76.2 percent from the floor, and led 44-25 after Luke Kennard hit three threes off the bench. Then the second quarter turned. Phoenix missed 15 of 19 shots, committed eight turnovers, and Houston closed the half on a 20-2 run, with Fred VanVleet tying it at 47-47 on a 19-footer with 57.1 seconds left.
Booker, Dillon Brooks and Collin Gillespie hit threes in the third quarter to erase a six-point deficit and give Phoenix a 76-75 lead going into the fourth.
Who else mattered
Jalen Green added 16 points and six assists, and Miles Bridges produced a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds with a team-high seven assists. Brooks scored 11. For Houston, Amen Thompson had 17 points, seven rebounds and four blocks, VanVleet scored 16, and Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Sengun each added 15. The Rockets shot 38.7 percent overall and 10 of 35 from three.
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