PHOENIX (AP) — Jalen Green scored 21 of his 30 points in the second half and the Houston Rockets overcame a 16-point deficit to stun the short-handed Phoenix Suns 122-121 on Friday night.
Houston won after blowing a six-point lead in the final two minutes. Devin Booker and Cameron Payne made back-to-back 3-pointers to tie it at 121, but the Rockets pushed ahead by a point when Green made one of two free throws with 28.8 seconds remaining.
That set up a frantic final possession that included four missed shots by the Suns, including a 16-foot jumper by Booker at the buzzer.
It was one of the few blemishes for Booker, who led the Suns with 41 points on 15-of-25 shooting. The three-time All-Star is in the midst of one of the best scoring stretches of his career. He had 44 points at Sacramento on Monday night and 51 against Chicago at home Wednesday night.
Houston (6-16) had the worst record in Western Conference coming into Friday’s game while the Suns (15-7) had the best. The Suns had their six-game winning streak snapped.
The Rockets trailed by 16 late in the third quarter and by 10 going into the fourth, but tied it at 106l midway through the fourth. Garrison Matthews made a 3-pointer with 4:17 left that put Houston up 113-110. Eric Gordon added a corner 3 with 2:05 left to push the advantage to 118-113.
The 6-foot-5 guard kept it up in the first quarter against the Rockets, scoring 18 points on 7 of 9 shooting. The three-time All-Star finished with 20 points in the first half, which helped the Suns take a 64-57 halftime lead.
Booker kept it up in the second half, scoring 13 more points in the third quarter. He pushed the lead to 96-86 after three quarters, making a contested, turnaround jumper in the final seconds.
TIP-INS
Rockets: G Jae’Sean Tate (right ankle soreness) was inactive. … All five starters scored in double figures. … Had a 43-19 free throw attempt advantage.
Suns: F Torrey Craig (right groin strain), F Cam Johnson (right meniscus tear) and G Chris Paul (right heel soreness) were inactive. Paul missed his 12th straight game. … Hosted a 40th straight sellout crowd at Footprint Center.
UP NEXT
Rockets: At Golden State on Saturday night.
Suns: At San Antonio on Sunday.
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