PHOENIX (AP) Chris Paul scored 25 points to lead six Houston players in the double figures and the Rockets, still without injured James Harden, rolled past the Phoenix Suns 112-95 on Friday night.
Houston, in its sixth straight game with Harden sidelined by a hamstring injury, led by 18 in the second quarter, 22 at the end of the third and 27 in the fourth in its sixth consecutive victory over Phoenix.
Clint Capela scored 17 points and grabbed 16 rebounds for the Rockets, who dominated the boards 53-38. Ryan Anderson and Trevor Ariza added 18 points apiece and Eric Gordon 14.
Devin Booker scored 27 and T.J. Warren 21 for the Suns, who were coming off a home win over Oklahoma City four days earlier.
Phoenix got off to a fast start, scoring 10 straight points, capped by Dragan Bender’s 3-pointer, to lead 21-10.
Then things turned sour for the home team.
The Rockets outscored the Suns 37-8 over the final 5:05 of the first quarter and first 6:47 of the second, when Anderson’s two free throws put Houston on top 47-29 with 5:13 left in the first half. The Rockets led 57-44 at the break, despite Booker’s 18 points.
Houston scored the first four points of the second half and Phoenix never got closer than 15 after that.
TIP-INS
Rockets: At 30-11, the Rockets have their fourth-best record at a season’s midpoint in franchise history. … Houston is 4-2 since Harden was injured. … The Rockets have won in Phoenix nine straight times and have beaten Suns 13 of last 15 overall. … Capela’s career high in rebounds is 20. … Houston won its 15th road game, third-most in NBA behind Boston (16) and Golden State (18).
Suns: Forwards Marquese Chriss and Josh Jackson missed the game, both with hip injuries. … Chriss ended a streak of 124 consecutive games to begin his career. It was longest streak by a Sun since Kyle Macy played in the first 329 games of his pro career from 1980-84. … Tyson Chandler grabbed 11 rebounds and needs 11 more to be the 40th player in NBA history with 10,000.
MEMORIES
The Suns, who haven’t made the playoffs in six seasons, commemorated the 25th anniversary of their 1992-93 Western Conference champion team at halftime. Charles Barkley, Tom Chambers, Dan Majerle, Kevin Johnson, coach Paul Westphal, and then-CEO and general manager Jerry Colangelo were among the participants. That team lost to the Bulls and Michael Jordan in the NBA Finals. Barkley, of course, got the biggest cheers.
UP NEXT
Rockets: Visit Clippers on Monday night.
Suns: Host Pacers on Sunday night.
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