Recap: Suns take down Kings in Sacramento, 122-117

With a four-game successful streak, the Phoenix Suns climbed into first place in the Western Conference even with out two common starters, level guard Chris Paul and ahead Cameron Johnson.

The Suns appeared to discover a rhythm and get again to the place they had been a yr in the past, dominating groups with their cohesion. It was an enormous motive Phoenix ranked second in the NBA in scoring margin (plus-6.9) getting into Monday’s recreation in opposition to the Sacramento Kings and surged late.

Phoenix had an enormous problem in opposition to the Kings, who ranked second in the NBA in factors per recreation (119.1) getting into Monday’s recreation and had been off to their finest begin (10-8, good for sixth in Western Conference) since 2018-19. the season. In the top, the Suns met that problem in their 122-117 victory over the Kings on the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Monday night time.

Phoenix is ​​now on a five-game successful streak, its longest of the season, and snapped a six-game dwelling streak for the Kings.

The Suns constructed their largest lead at 10 factors with 3:50 left in the third quarter, a part of a dominant stretch in which they held Sacramento to twenty factors on 7-of-22 capturing. But Sacramento, which is wanting its first playoff look in 16 seasons, did not go away.

The Kings went on a 10-0 run from 8:46 left in the sport to six:14 when their backup guard, Malik Monk, hit two free throws. Monk, who signed with Sacramento this offseason after one season with the Los Angeles Lakers, led the Kings in the sport with 30 factors on 12-of-17 capturing with eight assists.

Even with the Kings in management, the Suns did not fold. They went on a 10-2 run, capped by a 3-pointer by reserve guard Damion Lee to present them a 111-106 lead with 4:06 left.

That was truly the punch Phoenix wanted to shut out the sport, because it went on a 9-4 run to construct a 120-110 lead, which was countered by a 7-0 run for the Kings to chop the result in three with 35.4 seconds left. . Suns ahead Mikal Bridges missed a 3-pointer, however their different beginning ahead, Torrey Craig, had a key offensive rebound in which he saved his stability whereas standing close to the out-of-bounds line underneath the basket. He handed the ball to Bridges, who handed it to Booker, who made two free throws to seal the sport with two free throws with 6.8 seconds left.

Booker had a season-high 44 factors on 17-of-28 capturing, together with 16-of-22 from contained in the 3-point line, with eight rebounds and 4 assists. He additionally tied a profession excessive with six steals.

Suns beginning middle Deandre Ayton (17 factors), Bridges (13 factors) and Craig (11 factors) had been additionally in double figures for the Suns starters. Lee had 15 factors off the bench and was second on the Phoenix group as a plus-9 for the sport.

Here’s extra on how the sport performed out.

Feedback from Kevin O’Connor

Fourth quarter

The Suns needed to maintain off a rally try by Sacramento, which took a 102-101 lead with 6:32 left in the fourth quarter after a layup by Monk. Monk hit two free throws to present the Kings a 104-101 lead with 6:14 to go.

The Suns then responded with a 10-2 run over the subsequent 2:08 to take a 111-106 lead. Lee hit a clutch 3-pointer off an help from Ayton that appeared to present Phoenix the push it wanted.

But Sacramento, as earlier than, didn’t go away. The Suns prolonged their result in 120-110 with 1:14 to go on a steal by Booker and a 3-pointer by Bridges, however the Kings got here again with a 7-0 run to chop the Phoenix result in 120-117 with 35.2 seconds. left.

On the Suns’ remaining offensive possession, Bridges missed a 3-pointer, however Craig had an enormous offensive rebound as he almost fell out of bounds. He handed the ball to Bridges, who handed it to Booker, who made two free throws to seal the sport for the Suns with 6.8 seconds left.

Phoenix shot 10-for-19 in the fourth quarter and completed the sport making 50 of 94 pictures (53.2 p.c). The Suns shot 10 of 32 (31.3 p.c) from 3-point vary and assisted on 26 of their pictures.

The Kings made 11 of 21 pictures (52.3 p.c) in the fourth quarter. Monk led Sacramento with 30 factors on 12-of-17 capturing with eight assists. Sabonis almost had a triple-double with 17 factors, 10 assists and 9 rebounds, but additionally had 5 turnovers. Huerter had 18 factors on 8-of-15 capturing — he missed all 5 of his 3-point makes an attempt — and Fox and ahead Keegan Murray every had 11 factors for the Kings.

The Suns’ win prolonged their successful streak to 5 video games and Sacramento’s six-game dwelling successful streak was snapped.

The third quarter

The Suns started to drag away from the Kings in the third quarter, outscoring it 28-20 and holding their opponent to 7-of-22 capturing (31.8 p.c) in the interval.

Phoenix did not shoot the ball extraordinarily properly (11 of 24), however did sufficient so as to add to its lead a number of occasions in the quarter.

The Suns went on a 7-0 run over the primary 1:20 of the interval, which included a layup by Ayton, a layup by Bridges and a 3-pointer by Craig. Sacramento ahead Keegan Murray scored his group’s first factors of the half with 9:49 left in the interval and the Suns responded with 4 straight factors to take their first double-digit lead of the sport, 76-66. , with 7:36 left. quarter.

The Kings went on a 10-2 run over the subsequent 2:38 to chop Phoenix’s result in two, however the Suns responded with an 8-1 run to take an 87-77 lead with 3:50 left in the interval.

Sacramento fought again with a 7-1 run, however Booker hit two free throws and Suns guard Damion Lee hit a 3-pointer to present Phoenix a 91-84 lead late in the interval.

Booker had 15 factors in the quarter and was 14 of 18 from contained in the arc in three durations. The Suns’ second main scorer was Ayton, who had 4 factors in the quarter on 2-for-3 capturing and had 15 factors and 7 rebounds in three durations.

Payne struggled together with his capturing (2-of-9) by three quarters, however had seven assists to steer the Suns. Booker (plus-10), Ayton (plus-7), Washington Jr. (plus-7), Lee, (plus-7), and backup guard Landry Shamet (plus-4) had been the Phoenix gamers with a constructive plus/minus by three durations.

The Suns held Sabonis to simply two factors and two assists in the third quarter. Monk had no factors and Kings guard Terence Davis led his group in the interval with six factors.

The second quarter

Sacramento had 38 factors in the second quarter whereas capturing extraordinarily properly from the sector (16 of 21, 76 p.c).

The Kings tied the sport at 37 with an 11-6 run over the primary 3:09 of the interval, capped by a shot up the center by Fox. Fox had eight factors in the primary half on 3-of-7 capturing.

The groups comparatively traded baskets till 4:51 left in the quarter, when the Suns momentarily pulled away with a four-point lead at 51-47. The Kings then tied the sport at 53 and closed the half with a 64-61 benefit earlier than Booker hit a mid-range jumper to chop the deficit to 64-61 at halftime.

Monk, who entered Monday’s recreation fourth in the Sacramento lineup whereas averaging 13.4 factors per recreation, had 13 factors in the quarter and 17 factors in the primary half on 8-of-9 capturing. He additionally had all 5 of his first half assists in the second quarter.

Meanwhile, Phoenix shot 15-for-27 from the sector in the second quarter (1-for-5 from 3-point vary). Booker shot 5-of-7 in the quarter and led all scorers with 21 factors on 10-of-13 capturing with 5 rebounds, two assists and a steal. However, he additionally had 4 turnovers.

Ayton made all three of his pictures in the second quarter and made one free throw, giving him 11 factors in the primary half on 5-of-5 capturing. Outside of Booker and Ayton, Suns level guard Cameron Payne and beginning forwards Mikal Bridges and Torrey Craig shot a mixed 8-for-22 from the sector.

Suns guard Duane Washington Jr. contributed a team-high 5 factors on 2-for-3 capturing (1-for-2 from 3-point vary) in the primary half in seven minutes performed.

Outside of Monk, Sabonis made all three of his pictures in the second quarter and scored 11 factors on 5-of-5 capturing. He additionally had seven assists.

Huerter had 9 factors in the primary half on 4-of-6 capturing and Fox had eight factors on 3-of-7 capturing with 4 assists.

The first quarter

Phoenix led 31-26 after the primary quarter after capturing 14-for-24 from the sector (3-of-10 from 3-point vary). Meanwhile, Sacramento shot 12-for-24 from the ground (1-for-4 from 3-point vary).

Suns guard Devin Booker led his group with 10 factors on 5-of-6 capturing. He additionally had 5 rebounds and two assists.

Phoenix fell to a 15-9 deficit after Sacramento went on a 10-2 run from 10:10 left in the primary quarter to 7:14. After that, it was all Suns for probably the most half.

Ayton hit a 16-foot jumper earlier than Craig and Booker made pictures across the rim. Craig then tied the sport with a shot contained in the paint.

Sacramento scored the subsequent seven factors, however the Suns went on a 14-2 run over the ultimate 2:56 of the interval to take a five-point lead. Booker had six of these factors to paved the way.

Huerter led the Kings in the interval with 9 factors on 4-of-6 capturing.