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."

Kyle Lowry scored 14 points, joining Scola as the only Houston starters in double figures, and the Rockets used a 57-13 edge in scoring from their backups to win their third straight and fourth in five games. Houston's reserves averaged 51.5 points in the Rockets' two victories against Phoenix this season.

"All of those guys shot over 50 percent," Lowry said. "You can't do any better than that. You can't ask for no more."

The Rockets held Phoenix to five field goals and 13 points in the fourth quarter.

"We definitely tightened down our defense and just tried to make it as tough as possible for them and create chaos for them," Budinger said. "We were able to make some steals, get in the passing lanes and make it tough for them."

Houston also dominated on the glass, pulling down 12 offensive rebounds to Phoenix's five and scoring 22 second-chance points to Phoenix's six.

"These guys are relentless on the board, so you've got to be able to put your body on them," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said after Rockets snapped his team's three-game winning streak. "You have to be able to pursue the ball and go get it. When you have good defensive possessions time after time and they get the ball back time after time, it's a little deflating."

Associated Press

Notes:

The Rockets attempted only six free throws, making four. Houston did not go to the line in the first half. ... Houston guard Goran Dragic matched a season high with 11 assists. ... Markieff Morris had the Suns' other two points off the bench. ... Gortat played 41-plus minutes, one below his career high. ... Suns F Grant Hill was the only starter to come off the floor for Phoenix in the third quarter, giving way to Redd.

(China Daily 02/11/2012 page16)