VanVleet and Smith Jr. help Rockets escape Suns

Fred VanVleet finished with 23 points, while Jabari Smith Jr. scored 22 points and 16 rebounds in the Houston Rockets’ win on Saturday (PHT), 114-110.

The Rockets pulled through after weathering a late scoring surge by the Phoenix Suns.

Pulled through for the dub 👏@ATT | #Rockets pic.twitter.com/jLUaj3dxQT

— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) February 24, 2024

Alperen Sengun tallied 17 points and 12 boards while Cam Whitmore and upcoming star Amen Thompson scored 15 apiece.

Kevin Durant led Phoenix with 28 points, moving him up to No. nine in the NBA All-Time Scoring Leaderboard.

9TH ALL-TIME.

Continuing to rise in the history books. Congrats, KD! 🫡 pic.twitter.com/hliwl5rrau

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) February 24, 2024

Fellow All-Star Devin Booker contributed 25 points, while Bol Bol came out with season highs of 25 points and 14 rebounds.

The Suns were two bodies down with Bradley Beal missing his third straight game due to tightness in his left hamstring, along with Jusuf Nurkic, who suffered an ankle sprain.

Phoenix barged in the opening quarter with a 22-9 advantage before Houston cut their deficit down to 28-20 heading into the second. Thaddeus Young had his Suns debut midway through the quarter, nabbing four rebounds and two points.

The Rockets gained momentum by the second frame and took the advantage over their foes. They pushed their lead to double digits early in the third and were up 89-76 into the last frame.

However, the main scorers of Phoenix were able to rally a comeback, erasing the deficit and taking up the Rockets to a late battle in the last minutes of the game.

Crucial free throws from Smith, VanVleet, and a big rebound by Sengun in the last seconds allowed Houston to hold on for the win.

The win helped the Rockets maintain their 12th spot in the West with a 25-21 record, while the Suns slid to eighth with a 33-24 tally.