The Sacramento Kings (12-17) once again found themselves playing without their big man, as DeMarcus Cousins sat with a stomach flu, and the team once again failed to get the victory as they lost to the Phoenix Suns (17-14) 115-106. The Suns were able to connect on 14-three-pointers as well as shoot 49% from the floor.
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Darren Collison had 19 points, but only three assists, on a night where the Kings only dished out 18 dimes. The ball movement was dreadful and an offense, from the looks of it, was nowhere to be seen. The Kings were able to keep the game close due in large part from their 21 fast break points and 54 points in the paint. The Kings also doubled the amount of free throws the Suns attempted, but only shot 70% from the stripe.
Rudy Gay had a tough 7-15 day for 16 points, but did contribute five assists. Bench production from Derrick Williams, Omri Casspi and Carl Landry also helped the Kings cut into Suns leads, as well as energize the offense. Williams had 16 points and Casspi and Landry had 11 and 12, respectively. Ray McCallum saw plenty of minutes as Ramon Sessions was inactive and McCallum had four points on eight shots but also added five assists.
Isaiah Thomas had 17 points in his return to Sacramento. The Kings fans gave the former 60th pick a nice ovation when he came into the game for the Suns.
The Suns grabbed a 10-point lead in the first quarter and for the most part controlled the entire game. The Kings flow was atrocious as they were never able to really find a rhythm. The Kings trailed 28-21 at the end of 1.
In the second quarter, the Kings bench was able to trim the Suns lead to one at 41-40 before the Kings starters returned. The starters played even with the Suns, even tying the game before a Marcus Morris three gave the Suns a 59-56 lead at half.
The Suns ran with that three-point lead to start the second half and extended it to 10 in two minutes. The Kings took the lead at 82-81 on a Ben McLemore shot but gave the lead right back. The score would be tied 88 a piece before the Suns ended the period on a 6-2 to lead 94-90 heading to the final period.
Once again the Kings came out flat, and allowed the Suns to score eight straight to start the fourth. Once the Suns got their hands on that 12-point lead, the game was all but over. The Kings would only cut the lead to single digits with 14 seconds to play in the game.
The Kings have a quick turnaround as they face the New York Knicks at home tomorrow.