The Phoenix Suns (39-20) trailed the Houston Rockets (29-30) 80-73 heading into the fourth quarter of a late season game that when completed, on the surface would not have any long-lasting implications for either team.
Phoenix was in the midst of a surprise regular season in which they would finish 56-26 and one of the hottest teams in the league (they would go 17-4 over their final 21 games) although would be disappointingly bounced from the playoffs in the first round, while the Houston Rockets were showing heavy signs of their roster’s aging and were nowhere near the Western Conference finalist they had been the year before.