Houston @ Phoenix preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 30, 2018 ) Phoenix 103, Houston 104

James Harden's scoring streak shows no end in sight, but the Houston Rockets' trend of letting the other team score was getting out of hand. The Rockets finally found some force on the defensive end Saturday and will try to put up the same effort in consecutive games when they visit the Phoenix Suns on Monday.

Harden scored 43 points on Saturday to reach 30 for the 26th straight game and Houston locked down on the defensive end, holding the Utah Jazz to 36 percent shooting in a 125-98 triumph. "It was a must-win for us, and we played like it," Harden told reporters. "Defensively, we got after it. Offensively, we moved the basketball and everybody played well. But that's the effort that it's going to take for us every night." The Suns are no strangers to defensive issues and are surrendering an average of 122.3 points during a 10-game losing streak. "I always say you can't get comfortable with losing and I think we're comfortable with it right now," Phoenix guard Devin Booker told reporters after a 118-112 home loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston), FS Arizona (Phoenix)

ABOUT THE ROCKETS (30-22): Houston allowed the New Orleans Pelicans and Denver Nuggets to average 128.5 points in back-to-back losses, but Harden led the charge on the defensive end Friday by collecting six steals and four blocks to go with his 43 points on 12-of-22 shooting and 12 rebounds. Saturday marked the 15th time in the last 26 games that Harden scored at least 40 points and the 15th time that he recorded at least a double-double. Harden continues to be supported by strong performances from power forward Kenneth Faried, who is averaging 16.4 points and 9.6 rebounds in seven games since joining the team.

ABOUT THE SUNS (11-43): Booker collected 32 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds on Saturday but was upset that Phoenix failed to execute down the stretch of another game after a second consecutive single-digit setback. "It's two in a row that we've dropped, but you have to move on from it," Booker told reporters. "Just try to remain positive at all times. Lead this young group the best I can. Hope they realize how important attention to detail is and coverages and just the will to win. We need to learn that." Rookie center Deandre Ayton (ankle) returned from a six-game absence on Saturday and recorded 13 points and 11 rebounds.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Rockets SG Gerald Green scored 25 points on Saturday, four more than his total from the previous four games.

2. Suns SF Josh Jackson went 10-of-15 from the floor on Saturday after going 17-of-53 over the previous four contests.

3. Houston is enjoying an eight-game winning streak in the series.

PREDICTION: Rockets 126, Suns 109