The Phoenix Suns traded Goran Dragic and a 2011 first round draft pick to get Aaron Brooks because they wanted a proven point guard backing up Steve Nash. They liked Brooks experience as a starter with the Rockets last year and his aggressive mindset and ability to score. So far, however, Brooks is only 1-15 in two games against his old team and with Steve Nash injured, Brooks got benched in favor of third-string guard, Zabian Dowdell.
Dowdell put up the game of his short NBA career, with 11 points and five assists in 27 minutes but his defense was the real game-changer as the Suns defense locked down in the second half. Dowdell recorded four steals and shut down Kyle Lowry who was driving by Brooks at will and causing havoc in the paint.
Dowdell was +20 on the night while Brooks was -23.
The Suns got down early in this game with a lethargic 16-point first quarter but outscored the Rockets by nine points in the final three periods thanks mostly to Dowdell and a gutsy, energetic performance by forgotten man, Josh Childress. J-Chill, playing mostly the power forward position against the small Rockets team, finished with 15 points, six rebounds and four assists in 20 minutes.
The Suns battled back in the fourth quarter with a gritty run and had a chance to win the game at the buzzer with a wide open three-point shot, but Jared Dudley wasn't able to put the game-winner through the net.
The Suns have lost their last three games and fall further behind in the playoff chance.