Houston and Phoenix face off for conference matchup

Phoenix Suns (33-23, seventh in the Western Conference) vs. Houston Rockets (24-31, 12th in the Western Conference)

Houston; Friday, 8 p.m. EST

: Suns -3.5; over/under is 229.5

BOTTOM LINE: Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns take on Alperen Sengun and the Houston Rockets on Friday.

The Rockets are 16-15 against conference opponents. Houston is 6-4 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.

The Suns are 19-16 in Western Conference play. Phoenix is ninth in the Western Conference with 26.7 assists per game led by Devin Booker averaging 7.0.

The Rockets are shooting 46.1% from the field this season, 0.5 percentage points lower than the 46.6% the Suns allow to opponents. The Suns are shooting 49.8% from the field, 3.6% higher than the 46.2% the Rockets' opponents have shot this season.

The teams play for the second time this season. The Suns won the last matchup 129-113 on Dec. 28. Eric Gordon scored 27 points to help lead the Suns to the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Sengun is averaging 21.1 points, 9.1 rebounds and five assists for the Rockets. Jalen Green is averaging 18 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists over the past 10 games for Houston.

Durant is averaging 28.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists for the Suns. Gordon is averaging 2.8 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for Phoenix.

LAST 10 GAMES: Rockets: 3-7, averaging 112.8 points, 46.8 rebounds, 24.4 assists, 8.3 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 45.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.8 points per game.

Suns: 7-3, averaging 122.8 points, 43.1 rebounds, 28.8 assists, 9.2 steals and 6.6 blocks per game while shooting 52.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.8 points.

INJURIES: Rockets: Tari Eason: out (leg), Steven Adams: out for season (knee).

Suns: Bradley Beal: day to day (hamstring), Damion Lee: out (knee).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.