Devin Booker scores two of his 26 points against the Kings Photo: Jordan Chapin SportsRadioService.com
by Jordan Chapin with Charlie O. Mallonee
Sacramento- Friday night at the Golden 1 Center, the Sacramento Kings fell to Devin Booker, and the Phoenix Suns, 111-101. Kings started out hot, as Skal Labissiere scored 10 of the Kings first 17 points, including an emphatic put back dunk. The Suns had an answer, by the name of T.J Warren, who hit seven of his first eight shots from the field. Phoenix finished off the first with a 14-0 run in the final two minutes.
The Kings trailed the Suns throughout the entirety of the second and third quarters, as T.J Warren continued his efficient night with a bit of help from Marquese Chriss who finished with 14-points (3-for-3 from 3P). Sacramento struggled from 3-point land tonight, shooting only 8-for-24 from behind the arc.
In the first several minutes of the fourth, the Kings put together a 8-0 run, capped off by a Willie Cauley-Stein, alley-oop dunk, from Bogdan Bogdanovic resulting in a 97-93 lead by the Kings. With just over four minutes left to go, Phoenix tied the game 98-98, then it was the Devin Booker show. In the last four minutes, Booker and the Suns took over the game, scoring 12 unanswered points, and Devin booker handed the Kings their 23rd loss of the season by scoring nine of those final 12-points on his own.
Despite having seven players in double digits, the Kings fell to a hot Phoenix Suns team, who has won five of their last seven games. The Kings will try to split the season series at two games a piece when they face the Suns in Phoenix, on April 3rd. Sacramento will continue there homestand, New Years Eve, against Marc Gasol and the Memphis Grizzlies.
Battle of the big men as Zach Randolph attacks the basket against Tyson Chandler Photo Jordan Chapin SportsRadioService.com
Top Performers
Kings
Star of the Game: Skal Labissiere
Skal played only 15 minutes, but made the best of them. Despite having sub-par performances and a couple DNP’s in his last few games, Labissiere ended with 12-points, 5-of-6 from the field, four rebounds, including two offensive rebounds, and an assist. Skal played with a lot of energy and scored 10 of the Kings first 17 points.
Co-star: Garrett Temple
Temple helped keep Sacramento in the game shooting 5-of-8 from the field(2-for-3 from 3P)and ended with 12-points to go along with five dimes and three boards. Temple hit a few big shots throughout the game, but it wasn’t enough to get the victory.
Suns
Star of the Game: T.J Warren
Warren was the thorn in the Kings side tonight, racking up a double-double, finishing with 26-points and 10 rebounds. T.J Warren was very steady throughout tonight’s game and was the biggest key in the Suns win.
Co-star: Devin Booker
Despite a below average shooting night from Booker, he finished with 26-points, three assists and three rebounds. He shot only 3-for-9 from behind the arc, but in the end, hit the dagger that put the Suns over the top in a 111-101 victory.
Coach’s Comments after the game
Head Coach Dave Joerger reacts to the #Kings 111-101 loss to the #Suns on Friday night in #SAC. #SacKings would close the game up& then the #PHX Suns would open up another lead. A 12-0 run at the end of the game did the #Kings In for good! pic.twitter.com/0dqARNcwps
PHX #Suns Head Coach Jay Triano was obviously pleased with his team’s win on the road over the #Kings. He was particularly pleased with the play of forward TJ Warren who posted a double-double scoring 26 points & hauling in 10 rebounds. pic.twitter.com/eUoJjJ8DAA
Free Throws: the Suns converted 16-of-24 chances at the charity stripe (66.7-percent)
Rebounds: 16 offensive 29 defensive 45 total +7 over the Kings
Assists to Turnovers: 26 assists; 11 turnovers that became 12 Sacramento points
Second chance points: Suns 19 Kings 11
Fast Break Points: Suns 18 Kings 14
Sacramento (12-23)
Field goal shooting: 37-for-80 (46.2-percent)
3-Point shooting: 8-for-24 (33.3-percent)
Free Throws: the Kings put in 19-of-23 opportunities from the line (82.6-percent)
Rebounds: 9 offensive 29 defensive 38 total -7 to the Suns
Assists to Turnovers: 22 assists; 10 turnovers that turned into 15 Phoenix points
Points in the paint: Kings 40 Suns 38
Frank Mason III drives through traffic to the basket versus the Suns Photo Jordon Chapin SportsRadioService.com
Up Next
Phoenix
The Suns headed home after the game and will host the Philadelphia 76ers on New Year’s Eve. The Suns and Kings will meet one more time this season on April 3, 2018 in Phoenix.
Sacramento
The Kings will also be back in action on last day of 2017 when they will host the Memphis Grizzlies at the Golden 1 Center in a 4:00 pm tilt. Sacramento will then have a busy first week of the New Year as they will host the Hornets, Nuggets and Spurs to kickoff the month of January.
