Jalen Green scored 16 points and delivered six assists against the franchise that drafted him second overall in 2021, helping the Phoenix Suns secure a 102-99 victory over the Houston Rockets to break an eight-game losing streak in the head-to-head series. The contest marked the Suns’ second win and provided a deeply personal milestone for the guard, who spent the formative years of his professional career in Houston before being traded two years ago.
“It was a very emotional game for me. I spent the majority of my career there. I grew in Houston as a player and I learned a lot there,” Green said after the final buzzer. “It was a game that I absolutely had to win. I’m happy that we won it in a Suns uniform.”
Early Aggression Sets the Tone for Phoenix
Green established his presence immediately with eight points in the opening quarter, driving an explosive start that saw Phoenix shoot 16-of-21 from the field. The visitors built a lead as large as 19 points before Houston responded with a 22-3 run to level the score before halftime. Green finished the night shooting 7-of-14 from the floor, anchoring his performance in defensive activity and constant pressure.
“I just tried to be aggressive and play defense. Right now, that’s really my priority: being myself,” Green noted regarding his approach against his former teammates, punctuating stretches of the game with brief exchanges with the Houston bench.
The defensive intensity mirrored the tactical framework implemented by Jordan Ott. After forcing 25 turnovers in a previous outing against Orlando, Phoenix restricted Houston to a 39 percent shooting clip. Young frontcourt rotation pieces Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach spearheaded the interior effort, limiting Rockets center Alperen Sengun to 5-of-16 shooting.
“We have the talent to be a great defensive team,” Green said. “When you string together stops, it gives you a lot of energy. You just have to keep working and improving every day.”
Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks Seal the Result in the Closing Minutes
When Houston mounted its second-half charge, Devin Booker stepped forward to stabilize the offense. The Suns guard tallied nine consecutive points down the stretch to finish with a game-high 24 points, extinguishing the Rockets’ late comeback bid.
“He did what he always does,” Green said of Booker. “He took control of the game when we needed it.”
On the defensive flank, fellow former Rocket Dillon Brooks made his presence felt by shadowing Kevin Durant. Despite chipping in 11 points offensively, Brooks focused primarily on containing Durant, who was held to 5-of-14 shooting overall and 1-of-7 from beyond the arc. Durant ultimately missed a potential game-tying three-point attempt in the dying seconds that would have forced overtime.
“KD is one of the best scorers in history and Dillon is one of the best defenders in the league,” Green observed. “It was a fun duel to watch.”
Prioritizing the Victory Over Personal Milestones
While the matchup carried clear sentimental weight following his departure from Texas alongside Kevin Durant and Dillon Brooks in past roster movements, Green insisted that team success superseded any individual desire to make a statement.
“I was traded two years ago, so there was bound to be emotion,” Green said. “But I just wanted to win. Winning makes more noise than anything else.”
