Houston Rockets vs. Phoenix Suns game preview

During the summer, if you would have told me the Rockets would be the top seed in the Western Conference this year, I would have thought you were crazy.

Well, I probably would have asked if the Warriors had imploded or gotten seriously injured. It would be easy to say that the Dubs lost the top seed because they were injured, but that doesn’t do the Rockets justice. In reality, Houston grabbed the top seed before the All-Star break while the Warriors were completely healthy. So take that, narrative!

Tonight, the Rockets take on the Phoenix Suns in their quest for the overall number one seed. A win tonight plus a Boston win against the Raptors and your Houston Rockets will have homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs. Again, that’s crazy.

The Rockets are still not fully healthy. Per Jonathan Feigen, Chris Paul is questionable with a sore left hip, Trevor Ariza has a bruised right elbow, and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute was upgraded to questionable with his knee issue.

The Suns are two games ahead of everyone else in the race for the most ping pong balls in the lottery. At this point, I think the Suns would be best-served by letting Devin Booker run the point and see if he can turn into a facsimile of James Harden. He’s got good vision and can obviously score.

The Suns have lost 13 in a row and Houston has won 10 consecutive games. This shouldn’t be much of a game, but never underestimate a team that has nothing to lose. Win or lose, let’s just hope for no injuries for either side.

Tip-off is at 7pm CT