Rockets Dominate Suns in Durant’s Absence — A Clear Sign of Depth

In a commanding display, the Houston Rockets handed the Phoenix Suns a 114–92 defeat on Monday night — and they did it without their star forward, Kevin Durant. (Source: Washington Post)

Amen Thompson — The Spark Plug

Rising up big for Houston was Amen Thompson, who dropped 28 points while also contributing 8 assists and 7 rebounds. His all-around performance was a key factor in the Rockets’ dominance, showing that the team can win even when its marquee player is sidelined.

Bench Power: Aaron Holiday

The Rockets’ second wave came from Aaron Holiday, who scored 22 points off the bench, knocking down six 3-pointers. Holiday’s hot hand helped Houston build and sustain momentum throughout the game.

Suns Struggle with Turnovers

On the other side, the Suns struggled to maintain possession. They committed 20 turnovers, which translated into 26 points for the Rockets. That lack of discipline on offense proved costly.

Dillon Brooks was the top scorer for Phoenix with 29 points (on 11-of-22 shooting), but his effort wasn’t enough to carry the team. Devin Booker added 18 points, and Collin Gillespie chipped in with 16. Overall, the Suns shot just 41.3% from the field — a low mark for their standards.

Rockets Take Control Early

Houston took charge early in the game and never looked back. By halftime, they were up 59–50, and they carried that lead into the fourth quarter, forcing Phoenix to play catch-up while never getting closer than six points.

The Durant Factor

Perhaps what makes this win most impressive is that Kevin Durant, averaging 24.6 points per game, was not available due to personal reasons. His absence delayed what many saw as a high-stakes return — particularly meaningful because the game was played in Phoenix, where he previously spent a significant part of his career.

What This Means

• For Houston: The Rockets are proving they’re not a one-man show. Thompson’s breakout performance, backed by Holiday’s scoring, shows the depth is real. This win marked their 11th in just 13 games.
• For Phoenix: The Suns’ streak is snapped, and they’ll need to clean up their turnovers. Their bench and role players couldn’t offset the pressure without Durant.
• Momentum Check: Houston keeps building serious momentum. The Rockets now head into their next game riding confidence. For Phoenix, it’s a wake-up call — they can’t always lean on their core to bail them out.

Next Up

Rockets: Travel to face the Golden State Warriors.

Suns: Hit the road to take on the Sacramento Kings.

Bottom line: The Rockets’ win over the Suns was a strong statement — they can grind out wins even when key players are unavailable. If they continue to play with this kind of balance, they’ll be a tough out in any game.