"When it rains it pours" is an adage that is not often heard in the desert. But that was the adage that best applied to the Suns on Wednesday night, as nothing seemed to roll Phoenix’s way.

Two momentum-changing blocks that were called goaltending, turnovers at inopportune times, a mini-fracas, 27 points from Tracy McGrady and 38 percent shooting from the Suns added up to a 94-84 road victory for the Rockets.

“In the second half they got hot, hit some big shots and things just didn’t bounce our way,” Suns Head Coach Terry Porter said. “We needed something to happen offensively to get us back into the game, get some energy and get the crowd behind us. We just didn’t have it.”

Phoenix never seemed to find a rhythm offensively as it still searches to find its identity. The Rockets took advantage in the third quarter, outscoring the Suns 30-18.

Shaquille O’Neal was the lone bright spot for the Suns on offense, totaling 18 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks for the night. “The Diesel,” who is shooting 66 percent from the field this season, collected another career milestone when he passed John Havlicek for 10th place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list in the third.

Also late in that period, Suns forward Matt Barnes was ejected for getting into a shoving match. The Rockets’ point guard, Rafer Alston, was also banished from the game. While the scuffle excited the crowd, it did not deter Houston or McGrady, who managed to close out the game with some timely shooting.

“They were pretty resilient there,” Raja Bell said. “When they made their push back we weren’t ready to answer. They did a good job of what we didn’t do the other night.

"When they got us down they continued a barrage of threes, we turned it over again and it kind of just snowballed on us.”

Besides McGrady’s 27 points, Yao Ming added 17, 15 boards and two blocks while the Rockets’ point-guard duo of Rafer Alston and Aaron Brooks combined for 34 points. Leandro Barbosa scored 18 off the bench for Phoenix, but was only able to connect on 5-of-15 from the floor.

Early on, the Suns were able to establish a bit of an offensive flow, but lost their way in the second quarter when players shifted out of position or were uncertain of what to do when other players would freelance.

While many are trying to label Phoenix as a non-running team that doesn’t have the same offensive punch as years past, it is still producing the fourth-highest scoring average in the league. The Suns are also leading the NBA in field goal percentage.

It is obvious that Porter is looking to establish O’Neal and Amar’e Stoudemire on the blocks, thus creating opportunities on the perimeter once the tandem draws help defense. The focus on controlling the paint is one of the reasons that the team’s field-goal percentage is so high.

“The days of the fans thinking that it is going to be seven seconds or less are over,” Porter said. “You just don’t have the personnel for that.”

But he does want to play quicker and run more than the team is currently doing.

“We want to push it up and get to our spots quicker,” Porter said. “We just want to execute quicker and it will give us a chance to get us a good shot earlier in the shot clock.”

Porter believes that although the team may be experiencing growing pains, the key to winning in the playoffs will depend on solid defense and the ability to control the paint and the boards.

And in his mind, the duo of STAT and Shaq can make playoff success a reality. The Suns currently rank third in the league in points allowed in the paint. Both Stoudemire and O’Neal are adept at blocking shots, and both of them are averaging around 10 boards a game.

But while the Suns need some time to get everyone on the same page, the schedule won’t be so kind, with Detroit, Utah, the Lakers and Portland lurking just after their next game in Sacramento.

“The next four games are going to be important,” Porter said. “Three of the four teams are playoff-caliber teams. We know the next four opponents are going to a solid test for us.”

BLAZERS TO HONOR PORTER

Porter will travel to Portland to have his number retired on Dec. 16 when the Blazers play host to the Sacramento Kings. As a former star for that club, Porter was a two-time All-Star and still remains the franchise’s all-time leader in assists.

Porter believes that it will be the greatest honor in his career.

“I have the trifecta now,” Porter said. “I got the high school jersey, the college jersey and now the pro.

“It’s a great honor because the organization took a gamble, so to speak, on a guy from Stevens Point, WI. If you polled anybody from the state of Oregon at that time they wouldn’t know where I was from or what kind of player I was.”

The opposing coach Wednesday, Houston’s Rick Adelman, was Porter’s coach with the Blazers. He believes that his former point guard was due.

“Clyde Drexler was the star and Terry was right there behind him,” Adelman said. “It’s a great honor for him and well-deserving. Those were good teams and he was the leader of that team.”

Two days after Porter has his number raised into the rafters, ironically, the Blazers will also retire Bobby Gross’ number. It's not only ironic because the ceremony will take place as Porter and Co. will be in town to face the Blazers, but because Gross also donned the same uniform number.

As fate would have it, Porter's jersey will rest in the Rose Garden’s rafters along with Gross'. Technically, he will have his No. 30 half-retired. When Porter was asked how the whole situation unfolded, Porter joked, “Don’t ask me man. Get the red book out and call Portland.”

It could be worse for Porter, Rasheed Wallace could have his number retired one day and the Porter might have to split his number into thirds.

MENTOR TURNS INTO RIVAL

Porter fell to 1-4 against his old coach and former mentor, Rick Adelman. After playing for him from 1989-1994 in Portalnd, he was an assistant coach for him in Sacramento for the 2002-03 season. Porter's former coach remembers him as a player with intense work ethic and drive.

“He just out-worked everybody,” Adelman said. “He was a guy who played forward and center in college, and became a point guard in the NBA.

“That takes a lot. I’ve never had another player do that.”

Porter believes that Adelman doesn’t always get the credit he deserves.

“He’s always been good with players and putting them in systems that allowed them freedom to use their talents and skills,” he said. ‘He hasn’t gotten enough credit for that.”

The Suns’ head coach still keeps in contact with Adelman, occasionally turning to him for thoughts and tips. But when asked by a reporter what he thought of his former coach’s decision to shave his mustache, he responded, “You’ll have to ask his wife about that one.”

PAIN IN THE NECK

Steve Nash was nailed by McGrady on a screen late in the third quarter, grabbing his neck and wincing in pain. After the game, Nash said that he has a “pinched nerve” in his neck that acts up every now and again. But he said that he’s “fine.”

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