The Kings do not want to come down from their podium. Thanks to their victory (128-119), after a highly disputed match, on the floor of the Suns, the Californians chained a third victory in a row, and even the 8th in 9 games.
A dynamic that allows them to occupy second place in the West and to distance themselves from the players of Arizona, 4th in the conference. The latter, who remained on four straight wins, lost their first game since the injury of their star rookie, Kevin Durant.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– A first “run” quickly erased. With a Chris Paul in automatic distribution mode and a very serious Devin Booker from the start, the Suns started the meeting in the best possible conditions (16-6). This first gap was easily erased by the Californians who, back to a point after a quarter (32-31), accelerated the tempo in the second quarter with the contributions of substitutes, such as Trey Lyles. De’Aaron Fox and the incumbents then took over to offer Sacramento an eight-point lead at the break (59-67). The Suns executives reacted in the next period and Sacramento had to settle for the smallest of advantages to start the fourth (95-96).
– A “money time” favorable to the Kings. The two teams finding themselves tied (115-115) with less than four minutes to play, Domantas Sabonis, well found by his backs, started by scoring two important baskets near the circle. Deandre Ayton answered him with a 2+1 on the counterattack with a lost ball by Kessler Edwards on the block, following a first ball loss from Chris Paul in front of De’Aaron Fox. The latter sanctioned at half distance, then Kessler Edwards redeemed himself by doing the same behind the 3-point line. This shot came to close the debates while Monty Williams had just used his “challenge” to contest an offensive foul by Devin Booker. This one had put a blow in the face of Domantas Sabonis, who himself had undoubtedly committed a first fault on his penetration.
– West’s Best Away Team. This meeting confirms the status of the Kings, the most successful team in the West away (19v-13d). Notable fact: it is the only team in the conference to benefit from a positive away record. Only the Nuggets and Clippers have a balanced record under these circumstances. The majority of teams that travel well are in the other conference (Celtics, Bucks, 76ers…).
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ The Kings Bench. If the Fox – Sabonis tandem proved to be important in the “money time”, their statistical production was slightly below their usual production. Quite the opposite of bench players in full confidence and success, with an impact on the hyper positive score. We think of Trey Lyles who did a lot of good for the Kings in the second quarter. Or the three baskets in a row, including two award-winning ones, scored by Malik Monk to end the third period well. Without forgetting this mega “clutch” shot from former Nets player Kessler Edwards (who also distinguished himself in defense on Booker in the final), 45 seconds from the end.
✅ The Suns trio. Devin Booker assumed his status as the Suns’ No. 1 offensive option, showing great efficiency while Deandre Ayton and Chris Paul both finished in double-doubles. A downside in the performance of “CP3”: his clumsiness at 3-points (2/9), like his entire team.
⛔ Keegan Murray. Second game of the year, and even of the month of March, finished in zero points for the rookie who took several faults after the break and was taken out in the middle of the third quarter to no longer return.
THE FOLLOWING
Suns (37-30) : trip to the Warriors on Monday.
Kings (40-26) : reception of the Bucks on Monday.
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