Phoenix couldn’t keep up with Sacramento this time.
The Kings won their first game over the Suns this season, 128-119, before a sellout crowd of 17,071 at Footprint Center behind balanced scoring (seven players reached double figures), hot 3-point shooting (15-of-35) and winning the free throw battle.
Devin Booker scored a game-high 28 points while Deandre Ayton added 22 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Suns (37-30). Harrison Barnes paced Sacramento (40-26) with 19 points.
Kevin Durant missed his second game for the Suns with a left ankle sprain that will be re-evaluated in three weeks. Here are five takeaways as Phoenix plays Monday at defending NBA champion Golden State (35-33).
Without Durant
The Kings blitzed Booker, forcing the likes of Chris Paul and Ish Wainright to knock down shots.
They didn’t make many from 3.
Paul went 2-of-9 on 3s while Wainright was 1-of-6.
Those two came through at Dallas with Durant on the floor. It’s a make or miss league, but the looks were cleaner with Durant than without him.
This was a night when the Suns didn’t utilize Ayton in the fourth. After scoring 19 points on 8-of-14 shooting through three quarters, Ayton took one shot from the field in the fourth that came in transition.
He was fouled, hit the free throw to pull the Suns within one with 1:22 left, but De’Aaron Fox answered with a bucket. Booker was called for an offensive foul on the ensuing possession.
The Suns challenged the call that was ruled unsuccessful.
Up three, Sacramento got a 3 from Kessler Edwards with 45.3 seconds left.
Ball game.
Ayton can’t be the screener and hand-off guy all the time down the stretch, especially without Durant. That’s putting too much on Booker to carry the offense.
Free throws, bench doom Suns
The Kings finished the night 31-of-37 from the line while Phoenix went 18-of-22.
As upset as Suns coach Monty Williams was over the disparity, this can’t be the reason Phoenix loses a game, but it played a role Saturday night.
Sacramento scored 65 bench points on 20-of-33 shooting while the Suns managed just 34 on 13-of-27.
Williams was critical of his bench, saying it’s “unacceptable” for the Kings to score that many points off the bench as four Sacramento reserves reached double figures.
The Suns have overcome free throws before, but their bench will remain in question.
Ross dilemma
Here’s the deal.
Ross can get buckets.
Like this guy can fill it up with that rainbow jumper. He went for 18 off the bench after a 24-point night Wednesday night against Oklahoma City, but Ross is having his share of struggles on defense.
Williams has said Ross is still figuring out their concepts on that end, but teams are beating Ross off the dribble. That can’t happen for a team that prides itself on guarding their man.
Williams took Ross out Saturday after a couple of bad defensive possessions, but without Durant, he needed offense and went back to Ross, who delivered on that end, but yielded buckets.
Ross made a steal that led to a transition assist and follow that up with a 3 in the fourth, but the bigger question is can he be that fifth guy down the stretch of playoff games with Durant, Booker, Ayton and Paul and be counted upon to defend.
Suns fail in transition defense
They push the ball and have guys thirsty to score. Their style led to scoring off made Phoenix field goals.
Then while you’re trying to keep pace with them, the Kings will get Sabonis a touch or two in the paint where he’ll give multiple pump fakes and score or draw a foul — or both.
Very difficult team to guard, but they’re not the best defensive team.
Ranked 25th in defensive rating, Sacramento gives up open looks and drives to the rim.
That’s why Phoenix erased a 10-point deficit with 9:42 left in the third and took a one-lead on a Booker layup with 4:21 remaining in the quarter.
Sacramento will end a historic playoff drought, put on a show, but until the Kings defend at a higher level, they’ll be a disappointing early round exit.
Back-to-back
The Suns follow Monday’s matchup at Golden State with Milwaukee at home on Tuesday.
That’s rough.
Jae Crowder making his return to Phoenix after not playing one game for the Suns this season.
That’s going to be a crazy night, but if the Suns can come out of it with a split, that’s a win.
Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.
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