Mason Plumlee just accomplished the NBA's most impossible task

The Phoenix Suns endured another difficult night on Wednesday, as they dropped yet another game. This time it was to the Houston Rockets, who are quickly becoming everything the Suns are not. Stocked with young talent and plenty of draft picks - including those belonging to the Suns - the future is bright in Houston.

The fact they're also in a much better spot than Phoenix this season is a surprise, as it was not supposed to go like this. Yet when the Suns needed to notch a victory to try and sneak their way into the play-in conversation - even as the Dallas Mavericks above them continue to tumble down the standings - they couldn't get it done.

At least Mason Plumlee had the last laugh over Steven Adams.

The best way to describe center Plumlee's impact with the Suns this season has been, well... the fact he's not Drew Eubanks. He's a fine back-up and for a 34-year-old gets up and down the court and uses his big body well. The main issue is that at times the team have needed him to be much more than that to win games, and Plumlee has struggled in that spot.

Adams on the other hand has a reputation as being one of the toughest players in the league, and with good reason. The New Zealander is a former rugby player - and although he can come across as a gentle giant when speaking to the media - he is not somebody you want to mess with on the court as he always come out on top. Until he came up against Plumlee.

While you never like to see an altercation like this, the Suns did need a little something to give them a spark in this one. Only it felt like it was the teammates of Adams who actually got the lift, and they rallied around their own backup big man in the aftermath of the incident. This also did the Suns no favors, as their center rotation is thin enough as it is.

It meant rookie Oso Ighodaro played 28 minutes - and although it is nice to see some other players get a look - that is not the rookie who should be playing more. This would have meant more if the Suns could have pulled out the win though, and there's actually another reason why he may have over-reacted here too. Who remembers the below clip?

That's right, there was a time not so long ago when Adams went out of his way to ensure Plumlee wasn't hurt on a play. Which is why it was a surprise to see this one get so out of hand, because Adams is known to have a cool head, somebody who is not easily ruffled.

Contrast that with how this night is rumored to have ended, with Adams trying to find Plumlee in the back to go for round two. This can go down as a win for the Suns big man though, as not many people have tangled with the Kiwi and lived to tell the tale.