The Houston Rockets needed to beat the Phoenix Suns to help their playoff seeding. Thanks to Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green, they also improved next year’s draft pick.
Sengun scored 20 points on 7-of-7 shooting and led the Rockets with seven assists in Houston’s 111-104 win over the Suns Wednesday night, including a spectacular behind-the-back pass to Tari Eason. Green had 29 points and three steals as the Rockets forced the Suns into 17 turnovers in the win.
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) March 13, 2025
The game was a great sign for the Rockets’ future. Sengun is 22 years old. Green is only 23. And the Rockets own the right to swap first-round picks with the Suns next season.
Wednesday’s win moved Houston to 41-25. It is in fifth place in the West, but only one game out of second. And the Suns are 2.5 games out of the play-in tournament, an outcome that would send them to the lottery and send their pick to Houston.
The Suns traded the Nets a 2025 pick swap as part of their trade for Kevin Durant in 2023. Last summer, Brooklyn traded Houston that 2025 swap, along with the Suns’ first in 2027 and a swap for the Suns’ 2029 pick. That deal got the Nets their 2025 and 2026 picks back from their 2021 trade with the Rockets for James Harden.
Hence, every Suns loss is a win for the Rockets’ draft position this June. If the season ended today, the Rockets would have a 7.1 percent chance at a top-four pick but would be most likely to pick 12th. Houston has gotten lucky before. Last year, the Rockets had a pick swap with the Nets, who had the ninth-worst record, and they moved up to pick at No. 3.
Long-term, the Suns’ losses might help Houston in other ways. If Phoenix decides to shake up its disappointing roster with a big trade, the Rockets would be a logical trade partner since they own so much of the Suns’ draft future. They could end up with a top prospect this year — or they could end up with Kevin Durant or Devin Booker.
Of course, given how Sengun and Green played, along with forward Tari Eason (15 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks), the Rockets might not think adding members of the Suns is a big upgrade. They’ll settle for a big win.