A nasty 14-0 run by the Suns took took the Kings right out of this one.
The Sacramento Kings dropped Monday night’s matchup to the Phoenix Suns 104-109 after bouncing back from a 24-point deficit in a true tale of four quarters. The Kings were led offensively by Harrison Barnes with 26 points and De’Aaron Fox with 24 points.
Both teams were missing key starters in the contest: the Kings were without Tyrese Haliburton, who was plagued with back soreness, while Suns big man Deandre Ayton was absent with a leg contusion. Buddy Hield saw his first start of the season in Haliburton’s absence alongside De’Aaron Fox, Harrison Barnes, Moe Harkless and Richaun Holmes.
The first and second half were night and day. Sacramento was able to claw their way out of an early double-digit deficit by finding success on the glass and beyond the arc. The first half was bright for the Kings, out-rebounding Phoenix 19-18 and shooting a scorching 60% from three led by Hield and Terence Davis.
Davis made the most of his minutes, shooting a perfect 3-3 from beyond the arc in the first quarter on a season-high 13 points. After receiving a few DNPs over the last few games, it was nice to see Davis enter the game early and produce when Sacramento desperately needed offense.
Entering the tunnel after two frames, the Kings only trailed by 3 points.
Following intermission Sacramento just couldn’t seem to get it going. Phoenix controlled the pace and were able open up the quarter on a 14-0 run, leaving Sacramento frantic and uncontrolled on offense. Phoenix would go up by as many as 21 points in the quarter off of the Kings’ 10 turnovers.
Sacramento were able to pace themselves back with 2 minutes left in the fourth quarter, cutting the 24 point to three down the stretch with stellar defense, and big buckets brought to you by Fox and Barnes.
Despite a valiant effort to fight back, the squad just couldn’t get over the hump.
Sacramento will look to get back in the win column on Wednesday night as they travel to Texas where they’ll face the San Antonio Spurs for the first time this season.