NBA: Rockets, Suns fight for playoff position as Kevin Durant returns to Phoenix

Kevin Durant will make his belated return to Phoenix when the Houston Rockets visit the Suns on Tuesday.

Durant missed the first matchup between the teams in November due to a family matter, but now the focus is squarely on playoff positioning.

"It's going to be a high-energy game," Suns guard Devin Booker told the Arizona Republic. "Obviously a lot of history. I'm excited for it. It will be a good test. There will be an incentive to play the right style of basketball this time of year."

The Rockets (49-29) have won six straight games and eight of their last 10. With four games remaining, they still have a realistic chance to move up to the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.

The Suns (43-35) still have a mathematical shot at the West’s No. 6 seed, the final team to avoid the play-in tournament. Their current focus, however, is on fine-tuning their rotation as key starters return to health.

Durant came close to a triple-double in Houston’s last game, a 117-116 win over Golden State, another matchup he missed in November. His assist to Alperen Sengun set up the winning basket with 11 seconds left.

Durant finished with 31 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists, while Stephen Curry scored 29 points in his return after a 27-game absence due to a right knee injury. Curry missed a long 3-pointer in the final seconds.

The Rockets recovered after losing a 10-point fourth-quarter lead. Jabari Smith Jr. scored 23 points with nine rebounds, Sengun added 24 points, and Amen Thompson contributed 18 points and seven assists.

"When we play simple, make the simple play instead of trying to play in a crowd, and avoid fouls, we put ourselves in a good position to win basketball games," Durant said in a TV interview.

Durant spent over two seasons with the Suns before being traded last summer due to internal issues. The Suns acquired Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green, and a 2026 first-round pick in the deal.

"It's going to be a test for us as we look forward to the playoffs," Brooks told the Republic.

The Suns beat the Chicago Bulls 120-110 on Sunday, winning four of seven games after a five-game losing streak that coincided with the absence of Brooks and starting center Mark Williams.

If Phoenix stays as the No. 7 seed, they will face the Los Angeles Clippers or Portland in the first play-in game, with a second chance if they lose.

Brooks, averaging a career-high 20.4 points, returned from an 18-game absence with a fractured left hand, scoring 15 points against Chicago. Williams also returned after missing 15 games with a foot injury.

Brooks made key plays down the stretch, including a jumper, a 3-pointer, and a blocked shot during an 11-2 run that secured the Suns’ victory over the Bulls.

"To find a way to win a game and make big plays on both ends down the stretch, that’s healthy for this group," Suns coach Jordan Ott said.

Jordan Goodwin replaced Collin Gillespie in the starting lineup, with Gillespie having set a franchise record with 230 3-pointers this season.

"With three high-usage players in the starting unit—Booker, Brooks, and Green—it changes the dynamics for the second unit," Ott said. "We have to get ready for the playoffs."

-Field Level Media/Reuters