The Houston Rockets (25-33) travel to face off against the Phoenix Suns (34-24) on Thursday, February 29th. This game will be played at Footprint Center in Phoenix and televised on AZFa. The Suns are coming off a win in their previous game, while the Rockets are looking to get back on track from a loss to the Lakers. Tip-off is set for 9:00 ET.
Rockets vs Suns
The Rockets Look To Bounce Back From A Loss
In the game against the Thunder, Alperen Sengün was the top scorer for Houston, recording 23 points. His field goal percentage for the game was 38.9%. Jabari Smith Jr. finished 2nd on the team with 18 points, but Houston ended the game with a 112-95 loss.
Looking to get a win over the Suns, the Rockets are 25-33 and are below .500. In the Western Conference, they are 12th and are 3rd in the Southwest division.
This season, Houston holds an ATS record of 29-28, which also includes their two game losing streak against the spread. This season, Houston has a 12-7 record against the spread when they are the favorites, and they are 17-21 as underdogs.
The Suns Are Coming Off A Win
Grayson Allen scored 24 for Phoenix against the Lakers which was the most on the team. His field goal percentage for the game was 47.3%. As the Suns secured the victory with a final score of 123-113, Kevin Durant also chipped in with 22 points.
When facing teams from the Western Conference, the Suns are 20-17 and have gone 14-7 in non-conference games. As of now, the Suns are 34-24 overall and are 1-2 in their last three games.
Phoenix’s ATS record sits below .500 (24-33). Phoenix has failed to cover the spread in three straight road games and are 12-16 ATS on the road compared to 12-17 at home.
Rockets Offense Breakdown
In 58 games games, Houston has an average of 112.8 points per game (21st).
This season, the Rockets are 21st in the league in scoring at 112.8 points per game. However, they have actually scored more points on the road (110.5) than at home (115.0).
When it comes to pace, Houston is 13th in the NBA at 99.4 possessions per game. In terms of field goal percentage, they are 26th in the league at 45%.
One area where the Rockets have been successful is getting to the free-throw line. They are 7th in the NBA in free-throw attempts, averaging 23.8 per game. In terms of three-point shooting, Houston is 26th in both three-point percentage (35%) and three-point field goals made (12.1 per game).
Suns Offense Breakdown
Heading into play, the Suns’ offense is rated 10th in the league in scoring, averaging 117.5 points per contest.
At home, the Suns are averaging 117.8 points per game, which is 10th in the league. Overall, they are 10th in scoring at 117.5 points per game. In terms of pace, Phoenix is 15th in the NBA at 98.5 possessions per game.
When it comes to field goal percentage, the Suns are one of the most efficient teams in the league. They are shooting 49% from the field, which is 3rd in the NBA. In terms of two-point shooting, Phoenix is 8th in the league at 56%.
From beyond the arc, the Suns are 10th in three-point shooting at 37%. However, they are just 22nd in three-point attempts per game. Overall, Phoenix is 14th in assists with an average of 26.7 per game.
Rockets Team Defense
Currently, the Rockets’ defense holds the 12th rank in the NBA, allowing 113.1 points per game. In terms of two point field goal attempts, the Rockets defense has allowed a shooting percentage of 53.9% while allowing 34.6% from downtown.
Suns Team Defense
Currently, the Suns’ defense holds the 15th rank in the NBA, allowing 114.5 points per game. In their previous matchup vs. the Lakers, the Suns’ defense struggled, giving up a field goal percentage of 52% leading to 113 points.
Key Players For The Rockets And Suns
In today’s game, our projections have Alperen Sengün leading the Rockets with 20 points on 8/15 shooting from the field. For the season, he has been averaging 21.1 points per game, in addition to 9.2 rebounds.
On the other side, Kevin Durant is our projected leading scorer for the Suns. We have him ending the game with a team-high 28 and grabbing 7 rebounds. This season, he has put together a field goal percentage of 53%, and he is contributing 28 points per game on average.
Rockets vs Suns Trends
- Although Houston has a straight up record of 1-9 in their last ten road games, they have not held up as well vs the spread going 3-7. The team averaged 108 points per game in these games.
- Through their last three home contests, the Suns offense has averaged 111 points per game while allowing an average of 116. Phoenix posted an overall record of 0-3 while going 0-3 ATS.
- Spanning across their last five games as the betting underdog, the Rockets have gone 1-4 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 1-4.
- In their last three games as the betting favorite, the Suns have a strong straight up record of 2-1. In addition, their ATS record was 2-1 in these scenarios.
Rockets vs Suns Prediction
We’re calling a win for the Suns, with a final score of 143-118, and we’re taking them to cover the spread. Our recommendation is to bet on the Suns at -8.5.
As for the over/under, the the line is currently at 234, and our model projects the Rockets and Suns to reach a combined total of 261 points. Our bet is on taking the over.
All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!
* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.
Last updated:February 29, 2024 Rockets, Suns