November 25th - The Rockets defeated the Suns 114-92. Klay Thompson led the Rockets with 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists, while Dennis Smith Jr., Shen Jing, and Jrue Holiday all had standout performances. For the Suns, Dillon scored 29 points against his former team, but it wasn't enough to prevent the loss .

At the start of the game, with Durant absent, Thompson, Shen Jing, and Sheppard shouldered more of the ball-handling responsibilities for the Rockets. Late in the first quarter, Holiday hit three consecutive three-pointers, helping the Rockets finish the quarter with a 30-23 lead. In the second quarter, Smith Jr. scored a 2+1 play, and Davidson hit a three-pointer, quickly extending the lead to double digits. The Suns relied on responses from O'Neal and Brooks to briefly stem the bleeding, but the Rockets maintained a steady offensive momentum, with Thompson continuously attacking the basket for points. At halftime, the Rockets led 59-50 .

After switching sides, Thompson's consistent free throws helped the Rockets regain a double-digit lead. The Suns' offensive efficiency dropped, scoring only sporadically from Booker's free throws. At the end of the third quarter, the Rockets led 84-75 . In the final quarter, Thompson maintained his aggressiveness and continued to score, while Holiday and Smith Jr. continued their outside shooting. With Thompson's steady three-pointer, the lead was extended to 19 points. Ultimately, the Rockets defeated the Suns 114-92 .

Rockets player statistics

Thompson 28 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists; Holiday 22 points, 2 rebounds , 2 assists , 2 steals; Shen Jing 18 points , 5 rebounds , 5 assists; Smith Jr. 17 points , 7 rebounds , 1 assist , 2 steals , 2 blocks; Okogie 9 points, 6 rebounds , 1 assist, 3 steals; Sheppard 7 points, 1 rebound , 5 assists , 3 steals

Suns player data

Dillon had 29 points , 3 rebounds , and 2 steals; Booker had 18 points , 3 rebounds, and 5 assists; Gillespie had 16 points , 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals; and O'Neal had 12 points , 5 rebounds , and 1 assist .