Suns-Rockets Preview

By JUSTIN EINHORN
Posted Apr 13 2012 1:08AM

After completing an impressive road trip, the Houston Rockets had a bad start to a five-game run against teams they're battling for a playoff spot.

Virtually every game remaining for the Phoenix Suns appears to be tough as they try to make the postseason.

The Rockets look to avoid a season-high third consecutive home loss Friday night and deal another blow to Phoenix's playoff hopes while boosting their own.

These teams are among a group of five within 2 1/2 games of each other for the final three playoff spots in the Western Conference.

Houston (32-26) will face all of its competitors for those postseason berths in an eight-day span starting this week, hosting Utah and the Suns before a home-and-home set against Denver and a visit to Dallas.

That stretch began in poor fashion with Wednesday's 103-91 loss to the Jazz following a 4-0 road swing that included wins over Chicago and the Lakers.

"We had a great road trip and had a little bit of a letdown but we will bounce back," said Kyle Lowry, who played his third game after missing 15 with a bacterial infection.

Houston fell to 5-5 at home since the beginning of March and now looks to avoid losing three straight there for the first time since January 2011.

The Rockets never led after the first quarter Wednesday, shooting a season-worst 35.6 percent and allowing an opponent to hit better than 50 percent for the first time in 11 games.

"Today was big and we let it go," forward Luis Scola said. "Now we have to see if we can get Friday against Phoenix."

Houston lost the season series tiebreaker to Utah but could win it against Phoenix, having won two of the first three meetings.

The Suns (30-28) fell to 10th place in the West with a 104-93 defeat in Memphis on Wednesday as Utah jumped past them by beating the Rockets.

"We really have to focus on getting every win possible and not worry about the standings," forward Josh Childress said. "When the season is over, see where we stand. We can't be playing for that seed. We've got to be playing to win every game."

Only one of Phoenix's final eight games is against a sub-.500 team and half of them are against three of the West's best - San Antonio (twice), Oklahoma City and the Clippers.

Phoenix has won five of seven and held fourth-quarter leads in both losses during that span, getting outscored 30-8 in the final five minutes.

"We've got to do a better job finishing games, especially on the road," coach Alvin Gentry said. "We play hard and we put ourselves in a position to have an opportunity to win a game, and you just have to finish it."

Gentry's club had no problem doing that when it last faced Houston, leading by double digits throughout the final three quarters in a 99-86 home win March 18. The Rockets similarly dominated the lone matchup in Houston, winning 99-81 on Feb. 3.

Michael Redd led Phoenix in the last meeting with 25 points but scored two Wednesday after averaging 17.2 in the previous five games. Shannon Brown, though, continued his solid play with 18 points - slightly above his average in nine games starting for the injured Grant Hill.

Former Sun Goran Dragic also has flourished since joining Houston's starting lineup 18 games ago when Lowry fell ill, averaging 18.6 points and 8.6 assists.

Gortat, Nash lead Suns to key win in Houston

By CHRIS DUNCAN
Posted Apr 14 2012 12:12AM

HOUSTON (AP) Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry had a pretty simple solution for kick-starting Marcin Gortat in the second half of Friday's game in Houston.

Gortat finished with 20 points and 15 rebounds, Steve Nash had 18 points and 10 assists and the Suns boosted their playoff hopes with a 112-105 win over the Rockets.

The Suns came into the game holding the No. 10 spot in the Western Conference, and little margin for error with only two weeks left in the regular season.

Phoenix trailed by four at halftime, largely because Houston center Marcus Camby grabbed 18 rebounds in the first half. Gentry stormed into the locker room and aimed most of his frustration at the 6-foot-11 Gortat.

"If a guy grabs 18 rebounds in one half, then somebody is not doing his job," Gortat said with a wry smile. "Someone's got to get yelled at. Unfortunately, it was me."

Gortat and the Suns played with more energy after halftime, and Phoenix outscored Houston 30-14 in the third quarter to take control of the game.

"We were pretty disappointed with the first half, we gave up a lot of offensive rebounds," Nash said. "We definitely wanted to make that right in the second half and give ourselves a chance to win."

Houston's late rally fell short, and the Suns moved into the ninth spot in the Western Conference. Phoenix also closed to within one game of the Rockets, who came in holding the No. 7 seed in the West.

After winning four straight road games, the Rockets have dropped two at home to teams right behind them in the standings - Utah and Phoenix. Houston has a pivotal home-and-home set with Denver on Sunday and Monday.

"These games are coming up, and each one has more importance right now," Rockets forward Chase Budinger said.

Jared Dudley scored 19 points, Michael Redd added 13 and Sebastian Telfair had 12 for the Suns, who've won 12 of their last 18 games.

Grant Hill had four points and six rebounds in his first game back following March 30 surgery to repair a medial meniscus tear in his right knee. Hill played 25 minutes and said the knee held up fine.

"It was good to be out there competing," Hill said. "It was good to get that first one out of the way."

Camby had 14 points and 18 rebounds and Luis Scola scored 21 for the Rockets.

Houston led 55-51 at the break, then started 2-for-8 from the field out of halftime. Camby was whistled for a technical foul after snapping at referee Brent Barnaky, and the Suns added to the lead.

Redd's 3-pointer pushed the lead to 10, as the Rockets continued to misfire. Houston went 6-for-23 from the field in the third quarter and trailed 81-69. Rookie Markieff Morris then opened the fourth quarter with a three-point play, and Telfair sank two free throws to finish a 17-2 Phoenix run.

"We just came out with a sense of urgency in the third quarter," Hill said.

The Rockets missed five straight shots before Scola's baseline jumper with 8:45 remaining. But that only cut the Suns' lead to 88-75, and Telfair answered with a 3-pointer.

Phoenix led 95-81 with 5:58 to go when Nash returned from a long break. Gortat scored inside seconds later, and the Suns matched their biggest lead.

"We just played a real bad second half," Camby said.

Chandler Parsons broke free for a two-handed dunk to cap a quick 10-2 Houston run. But Parsons fouled Nash on a drive, and the two-time MVP sank both free throws for a 101-91 lead.

Goran Dragic sank two free throws and swished a straight-on 3-pointer to start Houston's last-ditch rally. The Suns led only 105-100 after Scola scored inside with 1:52 remaining. But Courtney Lee missed a 3, and Dudley hit one at the other end with 36 seconds left to put it away for the Suns.

NOTES: The Suns have won nine of their last 12 meetings with Houston, and 11 of the last 16 games in Houston. ... The Suns have won eight of their last 13 games when they trail at halftime. ... Gortat has 14 games this season with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. ... Camby is the first Rocket to grab 10 rebounds in a quarter since Chuck Hayes pulled down 12 in the first quarter against Cleveland in February 2011. ... The Rockets went 4-for-19 from 3-point range.

Notebook: Runs 112, Rockets 105

Posted Saturday April 14, 2012 12:06AM

By Matt Miller, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: The Phoenix Suns came into a sold-out Toyota Center and earned the victory they needed to ensure their playoff aspirations remained realistic. Marcin Gortat posted a double-double of 20 points and 15 rebounds, Steve Nash netted 18 points and handed out 10 assists and Jared Dudley scored 19 as the Suns rolled past the Houston Rockets 112-105 on Friday. Marcus Camby paced the Rockets' attack with 14 points, 18 boards and three blocks, while Goran Dragic added a game-high 22 points and seven assists. The victory moved Phoenix (31-28) within one game of Houston (32-27) for eighth place in the Western Conference and deadlocked the season-series at two games apiece.

QUOTABLE: "At halftime, we just got yelled at [by coach Alvin Gentry]. ... It's been one of our strengths since the All-Star break that we're always coming out hard in the second half. We came out quicker, and I guess Houston relaxed a little bit."
-- Gortat on the Suns' second-half turnaround.

THE STAT: Phoenix won for the eighth time in the last 13 games in which it trailed at halftime.

TURNING POINT: The Suns surged to the lead early in the third quarter and extended that advantage as the period progressed. After a Courtney Lee bucket cut Phoenix's lead to 69-67 with 5:20 remaining in the third, the Suns held Houston to only one field goal for the rest of the quarter en route to building an 81-67 edge.

QUOTABLE II: "We did a great job of establishing exactly what we wanted to do from the standpoint offensively. Then I thought we did a great job defensively of being active and our rotations were much better. ... I think the point [I made at halftime] was well taken."
-- Gentry on his halftime speech and his team's second-half adjustments.

HOT: After a scoreless first half on 0-for-3 shooting, Nash exploded for 10 points in the third quarter while leading the Suns to an efficient 10-for-18 shooting effort.

NOT: The Rockets have shot a combined 10-for-42 (23.8 percent) from the field during the third quarters of their last two games.

GOOD MOVE: With Houston in the midst of a desperate fourth-quarter rally, Nash drew a charge on Rockets guard Courtney Lee with 1:29 left to play. Two Suns possessions later, Dudley drilled a dagger 3-pointer to push the lead to 108-100 with 36.2 seconds remaining.

BAD MOVE: Houston has begun April with a season-worst three-game home losing streak, a surefire way to sabotage its chances of making the playoffs.

QUOTABLE III: "We stopped playing solid and hard, and our chemistry is a little wrong right now. We're not making right decisions. ... We're not being as fluid as we had been."
-- Rockets forward Luis Scola on the recent struggles at home.

NOTABLE: Phoenix's Grant Hill, returning to the lineup after missing the previous nine games with a torn meniscus in his right knee, came off the bench for the first time since December 2008 and only the 23rd time in his career. ... Camby pulled down all 18 of his rebounds in the first half. ... Nash and Gortat each have 28 double-doubles this season. ... The Suns improved to 4-13 on the road when trailing at halftime. ... Phoenix is now 17-5 when it grabs more rebounds than its opponent. ... The Suns have won only one game since March 18 when scoring less than 107 points. ... Phoenix improved to 12-4 when at least six Suns score in double figures. ... Dragic has dished out at least six assists in a career-high 19 consecutive games. ... The Rockets scored a season-best 36 points in the fourth period. ... Houston has reached 100 points in 11 of its last 19 games. ... The Rockets fell to 8-20 when allowing at least 100 points.

UP NEXT: For the Suns, Saturday @ San Antonio (ESPN), Monday vs. Portland, Wednesday vs. Oklahoma City. For the Rockets, Sunday @ Denver, Monday vs. Denver, Wednesday vs. Dallas.

• Suns: --
• Rockets: Fortson, Simpson, Smith

• Suns: --
• Rockets: Camby

• Lead Changes: 5
• Times Tied: 1

• Arena: Toyota Center, Houston, TX
• Officials: #17 Joe Crawford, #70 Brent Barnaky, #35 Kane Fitzgerald
• Attendance: 18223
• Duration: 2:35