Suns race past the Rockets, 117-102

Posted: March 21, 2015 -- 11:25 pm.

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- The Houston Rockets played one of their poorest games defensively all season; and, the Phoenix Suns took full advantage of the Rockets' listless effort with a 117-102 victory Saturday night.

The Rockets led 37-33 after 12 minutes as neither team played much defense in the first quarter. The Rockets increased the lead to 12 points twice in the second quarter; and, with 7:28 remaining until halftime, Houston enjoyed a 50-38 lead. However, in less than two and a half minutes, with a 11-0 run, the Suns sliced the Rockets' lead to just one point.

Corey Brewer sank two free throws to end the Rockets' scoreless drought; but, the Suns tied the game at 58 before leading 62-61 at halftime.

Suns' guard, Eric Bledsoe, scored 13 of his 23 first-half points in the second quarter.

"Early in the game, (Eric) Bledsoe was going wherever he wanted with the ball," Kevin McHale said.

In the third quarter, the Rockets' defense went from bad to worse. Thanks to 64% field goal shooting (16 for 25), the Suns outscored the Rockets 37-25 in the third period.

"In the 3rd quarter, they just manhandled us," added McHale.

Archie Goodwin scored the first two points of the fourth quarter for a 101-86 Suns' lead; but, Houston's Donatas Motiejunas scored a hook shot to start a 7-0 run by the Rockets. Josh Smith scored the other five points in the run.

After Markief Morris scored a lay-up for a 103-93 Suns' lead, Corey Brewer's dunk began a 7-2 Rockets' run to trim the Rockets' deficit to 105-100 with 5:32 remaining.

"We didn't get anything going defensively until that group got out there in the 4th quarter and turned up their aggressiveness," McHale lamented. "They gave us a chance, but then we got so many empty possessions on the offensive end where we couldn't turn corners or make plays."

The Rockets missed their next six field goals to help the Suns go on a 12-0 run over the next 5:07 to ice the game.

James Harden's offense was kept in check by PJ Tucker throughout the ball game. Harden finished the game with just 16 points on 5 for 19 field goal shooting.

"I wouldn't say I got the better part of him," Tucker admitted after the game. "He's still maybe the best scorer in the league. He just came off a fifty point game and I watched a lot of film and I know his tendencies and what he likes to do. You just have to not let him catch the ball because if he gets it in his hands, he’s almost always automatic so I just try not to foul him. It was good team defense. It wasn't just me."

Donatas Motiejunas led the Rockets with 18 points. Josh Smith scored 17 points off the bench while Trevor Ariza added 15 points and a season-high 12 rebounds.

Eric Bledsoe scored a game-high 34 points for the Suns. In addition to solid defense on Harden, PJ Tucker scored 19 points (8 for 12 field goals, 3 for 4 threes).

"Defensively, we didn't get as many stops as we needed to," said James Harden. "We scored 100 and something points. It wasn't our offense, it was our defense. So, that was the key to the game."

The Suns outrebounded the Rockets 49-36 in the game.

"They punched us around on the boards and we couldn't keep them off the board," McHale said. "We just didn't play very well."

CLICK HERE for The HRR's Rockets' write-ups.