PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns delivered an impressive performance on Friday night, securing a 122-106 victory over the Sacramento Kings. Devin Booker led the charge with 22 points and 13 assists, while Kevin Durant contributed an equal 22 points. It was a strong team effort, with the Suns making a total of 24 three-pointers, narrowly missing their franchise record by just one. They displayed remarkable accuracy, shooting 55.8% from beyond the arc.
The game saw notable contributions from multiple Suns players. Tyus Jones demonstrated his range, making six three-pointers to rack up 20 points. Ryan Dunn chipped in with 16 points, Bradley Beal added 15, and Oso Ighodaro finished with 11. The victory allowed the Suns, currently 11th in the Western Conference, to gain ground on the ninth-place Kings.
On the Kings’ side, Domantas Sabonis made a comeback after a six-game absence due to a hamstring injury and posted a formidable stat line of 12 points, 12 assists, and 11 rebounds. Despite his efforts, the Kings were unable to close the gap, as DeMar DeRozan scored 23 points, Zach LaVine 21, and Malik Monk 18, but they struggled with their shooting, especially from long distance, converting only 8 of their 32 attempts.
The match had its share of drama when Phoenix’s Mason Plumlee was ejected for the second consecutive game due to a flagrant foul against Sabonis in the third quarter. He previously got involved in a scuffle during Wednesday’s game. His start this game came as Nick Richards was sidelined with a sprained right ankle.
Observations from the game included how the return of Sabonis was a boost for the Kings, though it wasn’t enough to overcome their long-range shooting woes and 19 costly turnovers, which led to 38 points for Phoenix. Meanwhile, the Suns capitalized on their home court, enhancing their record to 19-13 with nine of their last 15 games to be played in Phoenix.
A pivotal moment occurred when Phoenix established an early 19-point lead. As Sacramento edged closer, reducing the gap to two points before halftime, Durant steadied the ship with a clutch three-pointer, ensuring a 62-57 lead at the break.
One telling statistic of the night was Sabonis, Monk, and LaVine collectively missing all 13 of their three-point attempts until LaVine finally converted one midway through the fourth quarter.
Looking ahead, the Kings will host the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday, while the Suns are scheduled to face the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.
