Backups give Rockets a win over Suns

PHOENIX - Chase Budinger and the Houston Rockets' reserves roughed up the Phoenix Suns.

Budinger scored 12 points while playing a team-high 31 minutes and starter Luis Scola had 16 points to help the Rockets outlast the Phoenix Suns, 96-89, on Thursday night.

"The first half, we played so well," said Patrick Patterson, who had 14 points in a backup role. "We thought in the second half we could go out there and keep passing the ball, sharing the ball, looking for each other, getting stops on defense and pushing it on transition. We feel that our second unit can go out there and compete with anybody."