Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NBA match.
The Houston Rockets are pushing for a top-four spot in the Western Conference, but their gap behind the Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Lakers is substantial. Fortunately, they have a favourable upcoming schedule with nine games against struggling teams, offering a chance to collect crucial wins. Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns are clinging to a play-in position, but their recent string of losses threatens even a 10th-place finish.
Houston Rockets
The Rockets produced a dominant defensive display in their recent win over the Orlando Magic (97:84), highlighting their strength at the back. They boast the league’s fourth-best defence, conceding just 108.9 points per game. Additionally, they lead the NBA in offensive rebounds (14.7) and total rebounds (48.4). Despite injury concerns (Reed Sheppard and Amen Thompson), key scorer Fred VanVleet might return, which would provide a significant boost.
Phoenix Suns
The Suns have lost six of their last nine games, often struggling to close out tight encounters. In seven of those matches, they collapsed in the fourth quarter. The Suns have been dreadful defensively, conceding at least 116 points in 16 of their last 17 games. They are also one of the weakest teams on the boards, averaging just 42.7 rebounds per game (26th in the league), including a meagre 9.1 offensive rebounds (28th).
Houston Rockets vs Phoenix Suns Prediction
The Rockets have a clear advantage in rebounding battles and have beaten their recent opponents by 12+ points in three consecutive games. The Suns struggle to close out games, are poor on the glass, and have a leaky defence. With all these factors in mind, backing the Rockets with a small handicap looks like a solid bet.
