NBA Daily Blog: Rockets grounded by the Suns at home 105-112

Michael Redd drives against Chase Budinger

Photo ©NBA/Rockets.com

The Houston Rockets suffer from another home defeat, this time at the hands of the Phoenix Suns at Toyota Center 105-112. The Rockets led in the first half 55-51, but were outscored in the second half by the Suns 61-50. With the loss, the Rockets drop to 32-27 holding on to the 8th spot, while the Suns improve to 31-28 currently sitting at the 9th spot.

Goran Dragic led the Rockets with 22 points and 7 assists. Luis Scola added 21 points and 6 rebounds. Marcus Camby finished with a double-double 14 points and 18 rebounds with 3 blocks. Chase Budinger scored 13 off the bench. Kyle Lowry added 11 points and 7 assists.

Marcin Gortat led the Suns with a double-double 20 points and 15 rebounds. Jared Dudley scored 19. Steve Nash also finished with a double-double 18 points and 10 assists. Michael Redd scored 13 off the bench. Sebastian Telfair added 12 points.

In Toronto, the Toronto Raptors pick up a big victory against the Atlantic Division-leading Boston Celtics at the Air Canada Centre 84-79. DeMar DeRozan led the Raptors with 22 points. Linas Kleiza added 17 points and 8 rebounds off the bench. Rookie Alan Anderson scores 12. Amir Johnson added 10 points and 9 rebounds. Ed Davis pulled down 12 rebounds. Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 18 points and 8 rebounds. Avery Bradley added 15 points and 6 rebounds. Kevin Garnett finished with a double-double 13 points and 10 rebounds. Brandon Bass scored 10. Rajon Rondo dished out 12 assists and 4 steals.

In Philadelphia, the New Jersey Nets pick up the win against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center 95-89. Gerald Green off the bench led the Nets with 23 points. Rookie MarShon Brooks added 22 points and 6 rebounds. Kris Humphries finished with a double-double 18 points and 13 rebounds. Another rookie Jordan Williams scored 13. Deron Williams also finished with a double-double 11 points and 10 assists with 4 steals. Jrue Holiday led the Sixers with 19 points and 6 assists. Evan Turner added 18 points and 7 rebounds off the bench. Thaddeus Young added 13 points and 7 rebounds. Andre Iguodala scored 11. Spencer Hawes pulled down 10 rebounds.

In Orlando, the Atlanta Hawks win in a blowout against their Southeast division rivals the Orlando Magic at the Amway Center 109-81. 6 Hawks players finished in double-figures with Jannero Pargo off the bench leading the way with 17 points. Josh Smith, Joe Johnson and Marvin Williams each scored 16. Veterans Tracy McGrady and Jerry Stackhouse each scored 11. Glen Davis led the Magic with 16 points and 9 rebounds. Von Wafer also scored 16 points with 8 rebounds.

In Indianapolis, the Indiana Pacers secure a playoff berth with the win against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse 102-83. Danny Granger led the Pacers with 18 points. Tyler Hansbrough scored 16 off the bench. George Hill added 15 points and 7 assists. Leandro Barbosa scored 13. Roy Hibbert finished with a double-double 12 points and 10 rebounds. David West scored 10. Omri Casspi off the bench led the Cavaliers with 14 points. Antawn Jamison and rookie Donald Sloan each scored 12. Samardo Samuels had a double-double 10 points and 10 rebounds.

In Miami, the Miami Heat bounce back after defeating the Charlotte Bobcats who have now lost 15 games in a row at the American Airlines Arena 105-82. The Heat played without Dwayne Wade who was resting a sore ankle and were led by LeBron James with 19 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. Chris Bosh added 18 points, 7 rebounds and 3 steals. Dexter Pittman scored 16 off the bench. Joel Anthony added 10 points and 4 blocks. Derrick Brown led the Bobcats with 21 points and 9 rebounds. Gerald Henderson scored 14. Rookies Kemba Walker and Bismack Biyombo scored 11 and 10 respectively.

In New York City, the New York Knicks blow out the Washington Wizards by 38 points at Madison Square Garden 103-65. J.R. Smith off the bench led the Knicks with 23 points and 6 assists. Carmelo Anthony, Baron Davis and Steve Novak each scored 18 points. Tyson Chandler pulled down 15 rebounds with 8 points. Jordan Crawford led the Wizards with 17 points. Kevin Seraphin added 12 points and 5 blocks. Roger Mason Jr. added 11 points and 6 assists.

In Detroit, the Milwaukee Bucks defeat the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills 113-97. Drew Gooden led the Bucks with 26 points and 8 rebounds. Brandon Jennings finished with a double-double 20 points and 10 assists. Monta Ellis added 18 points and 7 assists. Carlos Delfino scored 16. Ersan Ilyasova added 14 points and 7 rebounds. Rookie Brandon Knight led the Pistons with 25 points and 8 assists. Ben Gordon scored 24 off the bench. Greg Monroe finished with a double-double 16 points and 10 rebounds.

In New Orleans, the New Orleans Hornets defeat the Utah Jazz at the New Orleans Arena 96-85. Eric Gordon led the Hornets with 25 points and 6 assists. Chris Kaman scored 19. Greivis Vasquez and Al-Farouq Aminu each scored 11. Paul Millsap led the Jazz with 27 points and 8 rebounds. Al Jefferson scored 19. Derrick Favors finished with a double-double 12 points and 13 rebounds.

In Oklahoma City, the Western Conference leading Oklahoma City Thunder defeat the Sacramento Kings in a blowout at the Chesapeake Energy Arena 115-89. Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 29 points and 7 rebounds. Russell Westbrook added 22 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Derek Fisher scored 14 off the bench. Daequan Cook scored 13. Kendrick Perkins finished with a double-double 11 points and 11 rebounds. Serge Ibaka blocked 7 shots. Rookie Isaiah Thomas led the Kings with 21 points. Jimmer Fredette and Terrence Williams each scored 10 off the bench. DeMarcus Cousins pulled down 12 rebounds with 9 points.

In Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Lakers clinch a playoff berth after defeating the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center 103-97. The Lakers who are once again playing without star Kobe Bryant were led Andrew Bynum with 30 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks. Matt Barnes off the bench had a double-double 24 points and 10 rebounds. Pau Gasol also finished with a double-double 14 points and 10 rebounds. Andre Miller off the bench led the Nuggets with 20 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Arron Afflalo and Al Harrington each scored 18. JaVale McGee finished with a double-double 14 points and 10 rebounds.

In Portland, the Dallas Mavericks win a thriller against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Garden 97-94. Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavericks with 24 points and 9 rebounds. Delonte West added 21 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals. Shawn Marion finished with a double-double 17 points and 14 rebounds. Brandan Wright added 13 points and 8 rebounds off the bench. Jason Terry scored 10. The Trail Blazers who lost LaMarcus Aldridge for the rest of the season due to injury were led by Nicolas Batum with 20 points and 8 rebounds. Jamal Crawford off the bench scored 18. Wesley Matthews added 15 points and 7 rebounds. J.J. Hickson finished with a double-double 13 points and 10 rebounds. Raymond Felton scored 10.

STANDINGS AS OF 4/14/12 (13:19 PHT)

WEST:

1. Thunder (nw) 43-16, 2. Spurs (x) 41-16, 3. Lakers (x) 38-22, 4. Clippers 36-23, 5. Grizzlies 34-24, 6. Mavericks 34-26, 7. Rockets 32-27, 8. Nuggets 32-27, 9. Suns 31-28, 10. Jazz 31-29, 11. Trail Blazers 28-32, 12. Timberwolves (o) 25-35, 13. Warriors (o) 22-36, 14. Kings (o) 19-41, 15. Hornets (o) 17-42

EAST:

1. Bulls (c) 45-14, 2. Heat (x) 41-17, 3. Pacers (x) 37-22, 4. Celtics 34-25, 5. Hawks 35-24, 6. Magic 34-25, 7. Knicks 31-28, 8. 76ers 31-28, 9. Bucks 29-30, 10. Pistons (o) 22-37, 11. Nets (o) 22-38, 12. Raptors (o) 20-39, 13. Cavaliers (o) 19-38, 14. Wizards (o) 14-45, 15. Bobcats (o) 7-51

K-Smoove