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Suns resume important stretch at Houston

Apr 13, 2012 - 2:47 PM (Sports Network) - The playoffs have already started for the Phoenix Suns.

Virtually every game left on the schedule is a big one for the 10th place Suns, starting with tonight's contest in Space City against the Houston Rockets.

With just eight games remaining in the regular season Phoenix is two games behind both Houston and Denver for the final two slots in the Western Conference playoff picture.

Both the Suns and Rockets are coming off losses. Phoenix dropped to 1-1 on a tough four-game road trip on Wednesday, falling in Memphis 104-93.

Marcin Gortat paced the Suns with 19 points, Shannon Brown had 18 and Markieff Morris recorded 17 for Phoenix, which had won five of its last six before the setback.

Steve Nash had 11 points and 10 assists but turned the ball over seven times for the Suns, who were near the bottom of the West back on Feb. 18 but have gone 17-9 since to creep back into the postseason conversation.

"The second unit did everything they could to put us in a position to win, but the starters have to be able to complete the game," Suns head coach Alvin Gentry said.

Meanwhile, after a perfect 4-0 road trip, the Rockets returned to South Texas and faltered in a big one to the Jazz when Gordon Hayward netted a season-high 29 points as Utah got a much-needed 103-91 win on Wednesday.

Goran Dragic, an ex-Sun, paced the Rockets with 19 points and Kyle Lowry contributed 15 in defeat. Utah is in the ninth spot in the West, 1 1/2 back of Houston and Denver.

"They just outplayed us," Rockets forward Luis Scola said. "We were trying to get back all game long, and we did eventually get back, down to four, but they played better and they get [the lead] back to 10 again, and the game was over."

Houston lost the season series tiebreaker to the Jazz but could win it over Phoenix tonight. The Rockets have already taken two of three over the Suns this season.