Rockets at Suns: Jalen Green and Devin Booker renew their rivalry

[ASFN Admin]

When the Houston Rockets and Phoenix Suns last met on March 12 in Houston, Jalen Green had his way with Devin Booker in an impressive win for the home team.

Now, two-and-a-half weeks later, the veteran Suns shooting guard has a chance to get some revenge on his fourth-year counterpart from the Rockets.

It's a unique matchup for the Rockets, who have an opportunity to boost both their own playoff push and their future NBA draft outlook.

Because Houston owns the right to swap 2025 first-round picks with the Suns, Phoenix (35-39, No. 11 in the Western Conference standings) missing the playoffs would be very beneficial to the Rockets. The Suns are a game behind No. 10 Sacramento for the final spot in the West play-in tournament.

Then again, the primary focus for the Rockets is on securing their first berth in the NBA playoffs since 2020. Houston (48-26, No. 2 in West) enters with 11 wins in its last 12 games.

The Rockets won both home matchups against the Suns this season, and Sunday's game is the third and final one between the teams. Thus, a Houston victory would give the Rockets a series sweep, which would be quite helpful on multiple fronts.

Reed Sheppard Returns​

Rockets say rookie guard Reed Sheppard — who missed the past 11 games — is available tonight. Sheppard had been out since early March with a right thumb injury.

— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) March 30, 2025

Schedule Turns More Challenging​

From @ESPN: the Rockets have the hardest remaining schedule in the NBA.

Here’s their final 8 games of the season:

3/30: @ Suns
3/31: @ Lakers
4/2: Jazz
4/4: Thunder
4/6: @ Warriors
4/9: @ Clippers
4/11: @ Lakers
4/13: Nuggets pic.twitter.com/pk0BfVHzp0

— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) March 29, 2025

Future NBA Draft Implications​

The Rockets have a 7.1% chance to get a top 4 pick from the Suns this offseason.

Phoenix is currently a game back from the play-in spot and has the hardest strength of schedule remaining In the NBA (via @tankathon) pic.twitter.com/cEaNRdolqW

— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) March 30, 2025

Game and Broadcast Information​

• Date: Sunday, March 30
• Time: 8:00 p.m. CT
• Location: PHX Arena, Phoenix
• Channels: Space City Home Network, NBA TV
• Stream: Fubo TV (free trial), NBA League Pass nationally

Team Rankings​

Statistical rankings among the NBA's 30 teams, as of Sunday:

• Houston: No. 5 net rating (4.7), No. 13 offensive rating (114.5), No. 4 defensive rating (109.8)
• Phoenix: No. 19 net rating (-1.6), No. 9 offensive rating (115.3), No. 26 defensive rating (116.9)

Starting Lineups​

Rockets:

• Fred VanVleet, No. 5, guard
• Jalen Green, No. 4, guard
• Dillon Brooks, No. 9, forward
• Amen Thompson, No. 1, forward
• Alperen Sengun, No. 28, center

Suns:

• Collin Gillespie, No. 12, guard
• Devin Booker, No. 1, guard
• Kevin Durant, No. 35, forward
• Ryan Dunn, No. 0, forward
• Nick Richards, No. 2, center

Player Absences​

Rockets:

• Tari Eason, left lower leg injury management
• Reed Sheppard, right thumb avulsion fracture
• David Roddy, G League (two-way)
• N'Faly Dante, G League (two-way)
• Jack McVeigh, G League (two-way)
• Nate Williams, G League (on assignment)

Suns:

• Bradley Beal, left hamstring strain
• Jalen Bridges, G League (two-way)
• TyTy Washington Jr., G League (two-way)

Road Trip Concludes​

Sunday's game in Phoenix is the midway point of a three-game road trip for the Rockets. That trip concludes Monday against the Los Angeles Lakers (45-29) in what will be the final back-to-back of the 2024-25 season. After sitting out against the Suns for maintenance purposes, third-year forward Tari Eason is expected to be back in the lineup against the Lakers.

The fourth-seeded Lakers are hot on the heels of the Rockets in the West standings, so Monday's game could be pivotal for eventual playoff seeding.

More: As 2024-25 winds down, Rockets landing more nationally televised games

This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Rockets at Suns: Can Jalen Green outplay Devin Booker again?

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