The Rockets have finally overcome their slump and are gaining momentum. After three consecutive losses, the team bounced back with a three-game winning streak, defeating New Orleans twice and confidently handling Orlando (97:84). This success has allowed Ime Udoka’s squad to re-enter the fight for top positions in the Western Conference.
The Houston team relies on youth and aggression. Jalen Green and Alperen Şengün have been showing solid performances, while Jabari Smith Jr. continues to improve steadily. However, the team is still in the middle of the standings, and to compete for the top three, they need to keep up the pace.
Strengths: Youth and high-speed gameplay. Aggressive defense. Strong three-point shooting.
Injuries and Suspensions: Reed Sheppard and Amen Thompson will miss the match due to injuries. Fred VanVleet’s participation is uncertain.
The Suns still haven’t found their rhythm. The team is teetering on the edge of the play-in zone, but frequent slip-ups prevent them from securing a spot in the top 10. A recent win against a weakened Dallas (125:116) gave some hope, but a painful loss to Memphis (118:120) immediately set them back again.
Phoenix’s biggest problem is inconsistency. Despite having stars like Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, they struggle to establish chemistry. The team lacks defensive reliability, and their overall performance remains unpredictable.
Key Players
Strengths: Experienced players in the lineup. Excellent long-range shooting. Individual brilliance of the leaders.
Injuries and Suspensions: Bradley Beal will not play due to injury.
On paper, Phoenix looks like the favorite due to its star power, but their gameplay raises many questions. Meanwhile, Houston is in good form, playing at home, and showing cohesion. Given the Suns’ inconsistency on the road and the Rockets’ determination, the predicted outcome is a Houston victory by 5-7 points.
Three consecutive victories demonstrate Houston's serious intentions to rejoin the race for a top-three spot. The Rockets will play their next game on home court, where they have been performing confidently. Their opponent arrives as an unpredictable but highly motivated team.
With each game, Phoenix's chances of breaking into the top ten continue to shrink. The team alternates wins and losses, failing to build momentum. Every victory is crucial for the Suns at this stage, so we can expect them to go all-in. However, while Phoenix may avoid a blowout, Houston is likely to come out on top.
Our prediction: Houston to win, including overtime, at 1.61.
