Rockets bully Suns, 94-82

The underlying tremors of discontent that have swirled around the Suns’ offense were shrouded by wins for the first eight games. But on national television Wednesday, Phoenix’s fruitless search for an offensive identity was unveiled for all to see in an unsightly 94-82 loss to Houston.

After scoring the game’s first eight points and catching the Rockets flat-footed, the Suns deflated themselves. They scored just 29 points for the rest of the half, shooting 35 percent from the field as their offensive flow – which has been a struggle all season – came to a screeching halt. Leading scorer Amaré Stoudemire took only four shots and made just one in a 37-point first half.

It never got any better. The 82 points were the fewest since a Jan. 31 loss in San Antonio last year, and Shaquille O’Neal and Leandro Barbosa (18 points each) were the only Suns to score more than 11.

How many fast-break points did the Suns muster? That would be four – all credited to Louis Amundson in the final four minutes with garbage time in full flight.

The Rockets had lost three of their last four and were pounded in Los Angeles on Sunday. And after a players-only meeting on Tuesday, they did all the pushing this time. Tracy McGrady had 22 of his 27 points in the second half, including 15 in the third quarter, when the Rockets took complete control and Phoenix’s frustrations boiled over.

Just after Steve Nash jammed his left shoulder on a hard McGrady pick, Suns forward Matt Barnes put a shoulder into the chest of Houston guard Rafer Alston on a screen. After McGrady made a 3-pointer, Alston came charging back at Barnes and started a shoving match.

Nash rushed in to go after Alston, but was grabbed and pushed to the floor by McGrady as all 10 players on the floor and the coaches were now engaged. When it was over, Barnes and Alston were ejected while Nash, McGrady and Shaquille O’Neal were hit with technical fouls.

It was the most fight the Suns showed all night. Nash finished with 10 points and four assists in 33 minutes, while his counterparts for Houston (Alston and Aaron Brooks) combined for 34 points on 15-for-24 shooting.

The Suns took better care of the basketball (seven turnovers in each half) but missed a gaggle of short shots and jumpers while missing 11 of 14 3-pointers.

Yao Ming had 17 points and 15 rebounds for the Rockets, who led at halftime despite getting just nine points combined from McGrady and Ron Artest.