The Rockets (13-7) were without Jeremy Lin (sprained right knee), Chandler Parsons (sore back), Omer Asik (right thigh contusion), and Greg Smith (sprained right knee); and, their presence was definitely missed. However, Kevin McHale made no excuses regarding the injuries.

"Well, you still have to play. I don't care who's not there; you just gotta play. And, we didn't play the right way."

The Rockets missed all seven of their three-point field goals in the first quarter and shot a frigid 29.6% (8 for 27) from the floor. However, the Rockets trailed by just five points (25-20) at the end of 12 minutes.

The bricks kept flying in the second quarter: 6 for 20 field goals; however, the Rockets combined the poor shooting with 9 turnovers in the quarter and trailed 51-40 at the half.

After former Rockets' guard, Goran Dragic, scored a driving lay-up to start the third quarter scoring (and two more Rockets' turnovers), the Rockets went on an 8-0 run to spark life in the listless crowd and creep within 53-48.

Minutes later, Omri Casspi and Francisco Garcia nailed back-to-back three-point shots and pulled the Rockets within 63-61 with 2:20 remaining in the third quarter.

However, the turnover bug reared its head, with two more turnovers and the Suns scored the final 10 points of the quarter to take a 73-61 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Rockets scored 13 of the first 15 points in the fourth quarter and pulled within 75-74 with 7:09 on the clock. However, after former Rockets forward, Marcus Morris sank a three-point buckets, the Suns had a 13-0 run for an 88-74 lead with 3:07 remaining.

Three-point baskets by Casspi and Brooks plus two made free throws from Patrick Beverley inched the Rockets closer (88-82); but, with 91 seconds on the clock, Marcus Morris splashed in a 3 in front of the Rockets' bench which put the final nail in the Rockets' coffin Wednesday night.

James Harden had a very forgettable game. Harden missed all 10 of his three-point attempts and was just 3 for 17 overall from the floor.

"Just didn't have enough energy," said Harden on what went wrong tonight. "We didn't make shots on the offensive end or move the basketball; and, they did."

Ironically, Dwight Howard shot 7 for 9 from the foul line; scored 15 points and grabbed 18 rebounds. However, Howard did commit five of the Rockets' 23 turnovers.

"We can't give away games like this," Howard lamented. "It will come back and bite us in games later in the season. We've got to learn how, no matter how many guys we have out there, short-handed and all; we've got to play the same way -- play hard and play aggressive."

With tonight's the loss, the Rockets have lost two straight games for the first time this season.

"That's two games in a row that we had no flow," Kevin McHale said. We didn't have any flow in that Utah game either."