<p>PHOENIX — Jae Crowder scored 26 points, Devin Booker added 24 and the Phoenix Suns tied an NBA record with 18 3-pointers in the first half on the way to a 126-120 victory over the Houston Rockets on Monday night.</p>
<p>The long balls came in bunches for both teams in this contest, which at times resembled a game of H-O-R-S-E. The Suns finished with a franchise-record 25 3-pointers and the Rockets added 17. The combined total of 42 3s was one shy of an NBA record.</p>
<p>The Suns jumped out to an 81-58 lead by halftime after making 18 of 24 (75%) 3s. Crowder was causing a big chunk of the damage, scoring all of his points in the first half while making 8 of 9 from behind the arc as a socially distanced crowd got louder with each shot.</p>
<p>Crowder had previously never made more than six 3-pointers in a game. The Suns matched the record set by the Utah Jazz, who hit 18 3s in the first half earlier this season in a game against Orlando.</p>
<p>Despite the Suns’ hot shooting, the Rockets were able to stay relatively close because they were pouring in buckets as well. The Suns led 103-88 at the end of the third.</p>
<p>Houston pulled within 114-109 with 5:45 remaining but Phoenix responded with the next six points — on three rare 2-point buckets — and the Suns were able to hold on for the win.</p>
<p>Christian Wood led the Rockets with 25 points and 15 rebounds. Kevin Porter Jr. added 22 points.</p>
<p>Phoenix was undeniably on a roll, especially in the first half, but one reason was Houston’s poor defense. Several of the Suns’ looks were wide open.</p>
<p>The Rockets have lost eight of their past nine, including the last three in a row, and fell to 14-40 this season. The Suns have won nine of 10 and improved to 38-15.</p>
<p>TIP-INS</p>
<p>Rockets: Houston was without G Sterling Brown (left knee soreness), G Dante Exum (right calf strain), G Eric Gordon (right groin strain), F Danuel House Jr. (right ankle sprain) and G/F David Nwaba (right wrist sprain).</p>
<p>Suns: F Abdel Nader (knee soreness) missed his 12th straight game. … This was the first season sweep for the Suns against the Rockets since the 2009-10 season. … Deandre Ayton finished with 18 points. Chris Paul had 10 assists.</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Rockets: Host the Pacers on Thursday night.</p>
<p>Suns: Host the Heat on Tuesday night.</p>
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