The Phoenix Suns' sensational season kept on rolling Friday night, as they went to New York and beat the Knicks in Madison Square Garden.
Another brilliant result that inches them closer to the sixth seed and an automatic spot in the postseason. The team directly above them?
The Houston Rockets, who are beginning to exhibit some of the same problems as past Suns rosters featuring Kevin Durant.
Ime Udoka slams team minus Durant in loss to Portland Trail Blazers
Across the country and away from the bright lights of New York in Portland, the Rockets had a late collapse as they lost to the Trail Blazers.
This came about while Durant was sitting on the bench, with Portland going on a crucial 11-0 run en route to the win. After the game, Udoka wasn't having any of it.
Ime Udoka:
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) January 10, 2026
"You took a 37 year old out of the game for 2 minutes and you lose a 13 point lead. 11-0 run. Don't play with any aggression, confidence. Mentally weak. The fact that we have to rely on a 37 year old for 40+ minutes is a problem" 👀 pic.twitter.com/o9Z5vt5R4e
There is no doubt that this Rockets roster is miles better than what the Suns were able to cobble together during Durant and Devin Booker when he was in The Valley, yet the same problems are emerging.
It is certainly not Durant's fault that his teammates can't hold a lead when he sits, while in Phoenix it wasn't his fault the organization was in the second apron and couldn't put a winner around him.
Whereas the Suns gave up all their depth to get the superstar, it feels like the Rockets instead offered up their heart in the form of Dillon Brooks.
Again this Rockets team does look like it could win a playoff series, but right now not much more than that. Durant was supposed to be the missing piece there, but much like before with the Suns it is not working out that way.
Where past and present differ however is in how coach Udoka has no problem calling out the roster after the game. We didn't see that when with Mike Budenholzer or Frank Vogel were in charge.
But while the Suns have quickly built a cohesive unit that enjoys playing together and celebrates the success of one another, the Rockets have fallen foul to what happened in Phoenix when Durant was added.
They're trying to shoehorn in one of the best scorers ever, and the fit remains off. Booker himself recently appeared to inadvertently take a shot at playing alongside Durant, but there was truth to what he said.
A "my turn, your turn" offense is never going to work, especially in the playoffs. While the Suns understand that and have moved away from that way of playing, the Rockets are stuck at that point right now.