Suns Stun Rockets 102-99 as Booker Scores Nine Straight Late in Phoenix

Devin Booker scored nine straight points in the closing minutes, and the Phoenix Suns held on for a 102-99 win over the Houston Rockets on Saturday night at Mortgage Matchup Center. Booker finished with a team-high 24 points, while Kevin Durant, facing his former team for the second time since the trade that sent him to Houston, posted 21 points and 10 rebounds but missed a three-pointer with 10.6 seconds left that would have tied the game.

The Suns beat the Rockets 102-99 in front of a sellout crowd of 17,071 in Phoenix, improving to 3-5 while Houston fell to 7-3. Phoenix led by as many as 19 points in the first half, watched the lead vanish before halftime, and found composure again late behind their franchise guard.

Key Points

• Devin Booker led Phoenix with 24 points and scored nine straight to give the Suns a 102-95 lead with 2:30 left.
• Kevin Durant posted a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double for Houston but missed a three-pointer with 10.6 seconds left that would have tied the game.
• Jalen Green added 16 points and six assists for the Suns against the team that traded him to Phoenix.
• Phoenix led by as many as 19 points in the first half before Houston's 22-3 run tied it 47-47 at halftime.
• Phoenix snapped Houston's eight-game winning streak in the series.

What Happened

The Suns could hardly have started better. Phoenix shot 76.2 percent from the field in the first quarter and raced to a 35-23 lead after 12 minutes. Then the game turned: Houston opened the second quarter with a 22-3 run, and Phoenix managed just 12 points in the period, shooting 4 of 19 from the field. The teams went to the locker rooms tied 47-47, with Luke Kennard keeping Phoenix afloat off the bench with 11 first-half points and Fred VanVleet leading all scorers at the break with 13, 10 of them in the second quarter.

The second half was a grind. Durant, quiet in the first half with six points on a single field-goal attempt, grew into the game as the Rockets leaned on their star. But when the game tightened late, it was Booker who took it over, scoring nine consecutive Phoenix points to carry the Suns to a 102-95 lead with 2:30 remaining.

Houston had one last chance: Durant got a clean look from three with 10.6 seconds left. The shot missed, the Suns secured the rebound, and the final seconds ticked away on a 102-99 win that felt bigger than a single November result.

Background: The Trade That Still Defines This Rivalry

This was more than an ordinary early-season meeting. The Rockets swept the season series 4-0 last season after acquiring Durant from Phoenix in a blockbuster trade that sent Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green and the 10th overall pick in the 2025 draft, Khaman Maluach, to the Suns. Houston had won eight straight games against Phoenix going back to the 2023-24 season before Saturday night.

Saturday was Durant's second game in Phoenix since the trade. Brooks and Green started for the Suns alongside Booker, Miles Bridges and Oso Ighodaro, while Houston countered with VanVleet, Amen Thompson, Durant, Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Sengun. Phoenix was without Jordan Goodwin (right calf) and Mark Williams (left shoulder surgery), while Houston missed Steven Adams (right soleus strain) and Clint Capela (right ankle sprain).

Phoenix began the night 2-5, in the middle of a season-long seven-game homestand that will decide whether this team can climb back into the Western Conference race. A loss after leading by 19 would have been damaging. Instead, the Suns have something to build on.

Suns Beat Rockets 102-99: What the Win Changes in the West

The result does not transform the standings overnight. Houston remains 7-3 and one of the strongest teams in the West, while Phoenix at 3-5 still has ground to make up. But the manner of the win matters: the Suns beat a team that had owned this matchup for two years, did it without two rotation players, and held their nerve after surrendering a 19-point lead.

Booker's late burst was the difference: he needed 24 shots for his 24 points, but when the game was there to be won he produced the nine points that decided it. Green, facing the franchise that drafted him, added 16 points and six assists. For Houston, the defeat is a reminder that depth matters: without Adams and Capela, the Rockets were thinner up front.

Reactions and Quotes

Suns coach Jordan Ott spoke before the game about the difference Fred VanVleet has made for Houston since returning from the injury that cost him all of last season. "Just more of a calming presence," Ott said. "A veteran leader and then, an elite 3-point shooter." VanVleet's second-quarter scoring showed exactly that, dragging the Rockets back into a game that had looked lost.

There was no hiding what the night meant for Phoenix. Beating Houston for the first time in eight meetings, in front of a sellout crowd, after watching a 19-point lead disappear, is the kind of win that can steady a season. Durant's double-double was a reminder of what the Suns gave up, but on this night, the player Phoenix kept, Booker, had the final word.

Why It Matters

For Phoenix, Saturday was proof that the new-look Suns, reshaped by the Durant trade, can beat a genuine contender when their best player takes over late. For Houston, it was a warning that the West will not wait: a 7-3 start is strong, but the conference is deep, and a missed tying three in the final seconds is the margin between a top seed and a scramble.

The result also reshapes the rivalry. Houston's eight-game winning streak over Phoenix is over, and the Suns now know they can beat this Rockets team.

What Happens Next

The Suns continue their seven-game homestand on Monday, November 9, against the San Antonio Spurs, who went 2-2 against Phoenix last season. The game will test whether Saturday's win was a turning point or a one-off. Houston will look to bounce back quickly and get its full front court back.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the final score?
Phoenix beat Houston 102-99 on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Mortgage Matchup Center.

How many points did Devin Booker score?
Booker led Phoenix with 24 points, including nine straight late.

Did Kevin Durant miss a shot to tie the game?
Yes. Durant, who finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds, missed a three-pointer with 10.6 seconds left that would have tied the game.

How many straight games had Houston won against Phoenix?
Eight, going back to the 2023-24 season, including a 4-0 sweep last season after acquiring Durant from Phoenix.

Who do the Suns play next?
Phoenix continues its seven-game homestand on Monday, November 9, against the San Antonio Spurs.

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