Rockets rout Suns 148-109 as Phoenix star Durant leaves with ankle injury

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Phoenix Suns guard Tyus Jones, right, is fouled by Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant, center, sprains an ankle as the drives to the basket against Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) and Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant, right, limps off the court due to an injury as Suns center Nick Richards, back left, looks on during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green (4) drives past Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn (0) as Suns guard Collin Gillespie looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie (12) is stopped from getting to the basket by Houston Rockets center Steven Adams, left, Rockets guard Jalen Green, second from left, and Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) gets hit in the face by Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka argues with officials during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka argues with officials during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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Phoenix Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer, center, talks with Suns center Nick Richards (2) during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

By JACK THOMPSON

PHOENIX (AP) — Jalen Green scored 33 points for Houston, and Phoenix star Kevin Durant left with an ankle injury in the Rockets’ 148-109 romp over the Suns on Sunday night.

Durant fell to the floor with 6:57 left in the third quarter after he stepped on Rockets Jabari Smith Jr.‘s foot. Durant got to his feet, but could not put weight on his left leg. Suns coach Mike Budenholzer said Durant will have an MRI on Monday and will not accompany the team to Milwaukee for a game Tuesday night.

Durant finished with 11 points in 23 minutes, but the Rockets were already well ahead, having taken a 78-49 lead at halftime. Houston (49-26) has won 12 of its last 13 and is second in the Western Conference standings, two games ahead of Denver.

Alperen Sengun had 16 points and nine rebounds and rookie Amen Thompson had 12 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists for the Rockets. Neither played in the fourth quarter as Houston led by 42 points.

Devin Booker scored 28 points for the Suns, who fell two games behind Dallas for the final play-in spot in the West with six games remaining. It was Phoenix’s third loss in a row.

Rockets forward Dillon Brooks was ejected i n the second quarter after a brief shoving match with Durant. He was assessed two technical fouls while Durant and Nick Richards each received one.

Takeaways

Rockets: The Rockets are 12-4 in March with a game remaining.

Suns: Own the tiebreaker against the Mavericks based on winning the season series from Dallas. But with or without Durant, five of their last six games are against playoff teams.

Key moment

After Brooks’ ejection, Houston outscored Phoenix 23-11 the rest of the half to lead by 29 at the break.

Key stat

Phoenix committed 19 turnovers leading to 34 Houston points.

Up next

The Rockets are at the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night. The Suns are at Milwaukee on Tuesday night.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA