Thanks to the In-Season Tournament, the Kings will have five games against the Phoenix Suns this season, with tonight being the second matchup between the two Pacific Division teams. The Kings have yet to see the Suns at full strength and that will still be the case tonight, but with Devin Booker and Kevin Durant still suiting up, it won’t exactly be a cakewalk. Hopefully the Kings can bounce back after an embarrassing loss on Wednesday to Boston.
Let’s talk Kings basketball!
When: Friday, December 22nd, 7:00 PM PT
Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Last Time
The Kings and Suns last faced off a couple of weeks ago in Phoenix with the Kings beating the Suns 114 to 106. De’Aaron Fox scored 34 points to lead the Kings and Devin Booker scored 28 for the Suns. Phoenix was notably without both Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal in that game, and Durant should be back for tonight’s matchup.
Three in the Key
Slim Reaper
Devin Booker is averaging almost 28 points a game on 47.6% from the field and 38.3% from three and he’s not even the team’s highest scorer. That honor goes to living legend Kevin Durant, who is averaging 31 on 51.8% from the field and 46.7% from three. Durant is one of the best shooters and scorers of all time and the Kings don’t really have a great way to deal with him. In the team’s last matchup with Phoenix this season, the Suns only had Booker, and they spent much of the second half throwing double teams at him and forcing him to pass. That’s a lot harder to do when Kevin Durant is also on the floor. I’m guessing Keegan Murray is going to be in for a tough night. This will be the first time the Kings are seeing Durant in a Suns uniform and only the second time they’ve faced him since he left the Warriors.
Sabonis so strong, yeah
If Durant and Booker present matchup nightmares for the Kings, Domantas Sabonis might be the same for the Suns tonight as they’ll be without starting center Jusuf Nurkic, who is out due to personal reasons. That leaves the task of guarding Sabonis to the likes of Drew Eubanks and Chimezie Metu, neither of whom are as tall or strong as Sabonis. One of the biggest reasons the Kings lost to the Celtics so badly on Wednesday was that they were getting outmuscled and outrebounded by the Celtics, and Porzingis was doing a great job of providing rim protection. The Kings should instead have the size and strength advantage tonight, especially with Nurkic out. The Suns are already a weak rebounding team even with him.
Defend without fouling
This is going to be a tough one, especially with Durant and Booker on the floor, but the Kings have to try to do a better job of not fouling. That was a problem against the Celtics and another reason that game spiraled out of control. The Celtics weren’t even a good team at drawing fouls on the season and the Kings let them get to the line 24 times. The suns average almost 27 attempts a game already and are 2nd in the league at getting to the line. Durant and Booker alone combine for almost 16 attempts a game.
Prediction
Durant and Booker both prove difficult to guard but even with monster games from both of them, the Kings supporting cast and depth wins out as the Kings win a close one thanks to some De’Aaron Fox Clutch Player of the Year heroics to bounce back after a disappointing loss.
Kings 119, Suns 116
Fan Predictions
Link to Leaderboard (Updated 12/3/23)
Still at home, now facing the Suns,
Got to somehow control their big guns.
Keep open looks scant
For Book and Durant.
Take the ball to the rack for and-ones!
+1 Phoenix having second thoughts about acquiring Beal?
It will be important for whomever is being guarded by either Durant or Booker to be physical, and make them play defense. Sacramento drew three fouls against Porzingis in the third quarter, and the easiest way to limit a guy’s playing time is to put him in foul trouble early.
Besides, the more those two have to work on defense, the less energy they’ll have on offense.
I feel like this is an extremely under-utilized strategy for the Kings, historically and currently. It is a great way to put pressure on defenders to stay honest.
I’m actually shocked that we were able to tally 3 fouls against Porzingis, at all. Those refs were absolutely atrocious.
Not unfair to say a loss here would be cause for concern. If Kings truly want to be contenders, they should be able to take care of good teams – especially at home. Suns have talent but little depth, no Beal, and are spinning their wheels. If we can’t pull this one out, I don’t feel optimistic about our rematch with Minnesota. We’d all of a sudden be looking to keep our heads above water in a stacked West. Gotta take care of business tonight to regain some confidence.
Barely beat the Suns last time, now they have Durant back. But Nurkic is out tonight, so that may change how the game is played.
Be interesting to see if Domas is aggressive with scoring, or just hangs out at the top of they key all game again.
While the team has some issues, losing to any team in particular on any given night is rarely “cause for concern.” Consistent data sets showing a trend in the wrong direction for any given metric is when the FO begin to feel some concern. They know who they are as a team, they know where their deficiencies lie, and they’ll continue attempting to improve on them internally, of that I have no doubt. But one game, against another Western Conference “Super” team, regardless of the outcome, likely doesn’t mean much in the bigger picture. Who doesn’t like a win, tho? Amirite?
Random thoughts:
Kings can beat Suns. Have to hold Booker and KD in check. Don’t let them get on a heater. Advantage that Nurkik is out. Suns bench somewhat suspect.
Boston- missed opportunity but Kings melted. Could not overcome any adversity at all.
Kings have 2 productive players and need other players who are consistent and capable- look at Boston- no JS and Horford but had 5 guys score over 20 ! Boston has two way payers at all positions. Will Huerter, Keegan or somebody be able to step up? I am skeptical.
I did not want to trade this year but if the right deal opens up, then ok.
Having flashbacks to Lyles and Brook Lopez being ejected for a dust-up last year.
Kings could use some of that fight and aggression here. Not the actual fighting; but being physical from the jump, and letting the Suns know right away whose house this is.
Sabonis should feast tonight. I predict a triple-double from him, but it won’t matter much if the Kings give up 140 points to the Suns.
Gotta play some defense.
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