Phoenix Suns the Safe Bet Monday as They Visit the Houston Rockets

Mon, Apr 5, 2021
By Jim Vassallo (Veri.bet Writer)

The Phoenix Suns (34-14, 2nd in the Western Conference) visit the Houston Rockets (13-36, 14th in the Western Conference) on Monday, April 5, at 8 PM ET.

If you are looking for a safe bet in the NBA tonight, this game provides it as the Suns should have no trouble with the 13-win Rockets on the road.

Phoenix sits just 3.5 games behind the Utah Jazz for first place in the Western Conference. The Suns lead the Pacific Division by 2.5 games over the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Suns come into tonight have won five in a row.

Houston has had one of the worst seasons in franchise history. The Rockets have just 13 wins and are two losses away from tying the Minnesota Timberwolves for the worst record in the league.

Houston has lost four in a row coming into tonight and is in last place in the Southwest Division, 14.5 games behind the Dallas Mavericks. The Rockets are in pure rebuilding mode after trading James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets in January.

Phoenix is 8-2 in its last 10 games played, while Houston is just 2-8.

This is game two of a three-game regular-season series. The Suns won the first game 109-103. The teams will meet for a third and final time one week from tonight on April 12.

The last time the Suns hit the court they demolished the Oklahoma City Thunder by 37 points in a 140-103 victory. The Suns led by 30 after the first quarter and never looked back.

Devin Booker dropped 32 and Chris Paul, Mikal Bridges, and Cameron Johnson all had 17 points to lead the Suns to a fifth straight victory.

"Just getting better, continuing to get better to reach our goals down the line," Booker said. "We always say we're not playing against our opponents. We're playing against ourselves."

It has been more than 10 years since Phoenix has made a playoff appearance but this year's team looks downright scary and could make a deep run in the postseason.

"I just like winning," Suns coach Monty Williams said. "30 points, one point, whatever it is. I want to get our team used to winning games and the value of being a good team. It's something I don't take for granted. I'll coach any situation that has us in the victory column."

The 32 points for Booker came one game after he scored a season-high 45 against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday.

"Devin can score," Williams said. "It's hard to come up with another way to describe it. I've played with guys like that, been with guys like that, guarded guys like that. It's just a gift."

The Houston Rockets fell to the New Orleans Pelicans 122-115 in their most recent game played.

"This is the learning process we go through," Houston coach Stephen Silas said. "We have to learn it's about winning in the fourth quarter. Up and down with the emotions, we can't let that distract us when we're trying to win a game in the fourth."

The Suns led 92-89 heading into the fourth quarter but could not hold the lead.

Injuries are taking their toll on both teams. The Rockets have listed Dante Exum: out (calf), David Nwaba: out (wrist), John Wall: out (knee), and Eric Gordon: out (groin).

The Suns listed Frank Kaminsky: out (health and safety protocols) and Abdel Nader: out (knee).

If you want to win an easy bet, put your money on the Suns by 12.5 tonight over the Rockets on the road. Phoenix is 16-6 in away games, while Houston is just 6-18 at home.