Houston Rockets vs. Phoenix Suns game preview

Much like how the Warriors were able to bounce back quickly after their loss to Phoenix, Houston has a chance to bounce back quickly after a loss to the Warriors when the Phoenix Suns come into town.

The Suns have won four of their last six, and their most recent loss against Utah was a 3-point game heading to the fourth quarter. Among the four wins are the aforementioned Warriors win, along with wins against the Lakers and Bucks.

This is an interesting time of year for teams at the bottom of the standings. While fans see teams like the Suns as “tanking,” the players and coaches aren’t actively trying to lose. What usually happens is a good team (like Milwaukee or Golden State, for example) comes into the game expecting a cakewalk. What they get is a young team that is starting to find their groove and trying to prove that they should be a long-term piece of the puzzle.

Phoenix has plenty of talent to score and put up points, but the Rockets will need to attack the basket and prove the talent/system disparity. Expect a tight game for at least three quarters as the Suns hang around before Houston finally puts them away.

Tip-off is at 7pm CT