The Phoenix Suns delivered a commanding 122-106 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Friday night, closing the gap in the Western Conference standings.
Devin Booker led Phoenix with 22 points and 13 assists, while Kevin Durant also scored 22. Tyus Jones added 20 points, draining six three-pointers as the Suns connected on 24 shots from beyond the arc, just one short of the franchise record.
Sacramento struggled to keep pace, shooting just 25% (8-of-32) from three-point range and committing 19 turnovers, leading to 38 points for Phoenix. DeMar DeRozan scored 23 points, Zach LaVine added 21, and Malik Monk finished with 18, but the Kings failed to mount a sustained comeback.
Domantas Sabonis returned from a six-game absence and recorded a triple-double with 12 points, 12 assists, and 11 rebounds. However, he and his teammates had trouble from deep, with Sabonis, Monk, and LaVine going a combined 0-for-13 from three before LaVine finally hit one in the fourth quarter.
Phoenix built an early 19-point lead before Sacramento trimmed it to two late in the second quarter. Durant responded with a three-pointer to give the Suns a 62-57 halftime advantage.
The game took a physical turn in the third quarter when Mason Plumlee was ejected for a flagrant foul on Sabonis. It marked Plumlee’s second consecutive game with an ejection, following a scuffle with Houston’s Steven Adams on Wednesday.
Despite the heated moment, the Suns stayed locked in. Ryan Dunn contributed 16 points, Bradley Beal scored 15, and Oso Ighodaro added 11 as Phoenix improved to 19-13 at home. Nine of their final 15 games will be played at Footprint Center.
The Kings’ loss keeps them in ninth place in the Western Conference, while the Suns inch closer to the play-in race. With both teams fighting for postseason positioning, every game down the stretch will carry significant weight.
