"The Suns are a fantastic team with a halftime lead, winning nine of 10 times this season.

The problem with getting that halftime lead has been keeping first-quarter leads.

The latest mix of Suns reserves is having the same problem as past combinations -- scoring in the second quarter. The Suns rank 25th in the NBA in second-quarter scoring, averaging 22 points, and have failed to score 20 in the second quarter three times in the past week.

When they win the second quarter they are 9-2 this season.

The Suns led 32-30 early in Thursday night's second quarter against Houston before surrendering a 13-0 run with faults on both sides of the floor. The second unit's inability to score unless there is a hot hand, usually Michael Redd's lately, was shown when Suns reserves missed all but one of 10 consecutive first-half shots.

When the Suns starters re-enter, they are fighting the opponent's momentum and confidence.

"It's frustrating and it's embarrassing," Suns reserve small forward Josh Childress said. "We have to be better than that. Coach (Alvin Gentry) has given us a lot of trust. We have to find ways to help the team. Every single one of us wants to do the right thing but we have to make that translate into results.""