The Phoenix Suns had their seven-game winning streak snapped with a 127-118 overtime loss to the Sacramento Kings.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!This was Phoenix’s first game without Kevin Durant after the team announced yesterday he has a calf strain and will be re-evaluated in two weeks.
Phoenix fell to 8-2 with the loss, while the Kings improved to 6-4. The Suns lost their first game in the clutch (games within five points in the final five minutes) after entering tonight 7-0 in those situations.
Here are some initial takeaways from the game:
– DeMar DeRozan went off in the fourth quarter and overtime, scoring 24 of his game-high 34 points in these two periods on 9-of-10 shooting. The Suns looked gassed after mounting a comeback of their own in the second half. Devin Booker and Bradley Beal had a few uncharacteristic airballs in the fourth quarter and overtime. Sacramento shot 7-for-8 in overtime as a team, as De’Aaron Fox (21 points and 12 rebounds on the night) had eight points in overtime. Phoenix, meanwhile shot 2-for-9 (22.2%) as a team in OT and 1-for-7 (14.3%) from 3.
– The Suns led the entire fourth quarter until Keegan Murray made a tip-in with 3.9 seconds to put Sacramento up 111-110. After a Phoenix timeout, Booker was then fouled by Murray before the inbounds play. He hit the single free throw, and by rule, Phoenix got to inbound the ball again. Booker missed what would have been the game-winning 3-pointer and the game went to overtime tied at 111.
– The Kings took an 11-point lead early in the third quarter after being in front since early in the first quarter. However, the Suns ended up putting together a clinic in the third quarter, winning the period 29-19 and holding Sacramento to 7-of-23 (30.4%) shooting, 1-of-9 (11.1%) shooting from 3 and forcing five turnovers.
Grayson Allen hits the deep 3 to give the #Suns an 82-79 lead heading into the fourth.
Phoenix won the third quarter 29-19, holding Sacramento to 7-of-23 (30.4%) shooting, 1-of-9 (11.1%) shooting from 3 and forcing five turnovers. pic.twitter.com/iKluHyBWWw
— Burn City Suns ☀️ (@BurnCitySuns) November 11, 2024
– Booker shot 3-for-10 in the fourth quarter and overtime, but recorded his second-straight double-double with 23 points on 9-of-22 shooting (3-for-10 from 3) and 12 assists.
– Tyus Jones showed why he is the perfect fit for the Suns tonight. He didn’t dominate the game with his playmaking, but did convert 6 of his 10 3-pointers, including his first five attempts, most on catch-and-shoot opportunities, ending with 22 points. As a lot of Suns have already demonstrated, Jones is willing to play any role needed.
– The Suns needed Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale to step up without Durant. However, the two players combined for 6-for-27 shooting for the game. Josh Okogie came up big with nine points on 4-of-7 shooting and five rebounds in 16 minutes off the bench.
– Phoenix did a great job of stripping Domantas Sabonis to take him out of the game. The three-time All-Star had six turnovers and also fouled out in overtime, but still had 20 points, 12 rebounds and five assists.
– Jusuf Nurkić left the game at halftime with left ankle soreness, which he was questionable with heading into the game. Mason Plumlee (six points, 11 rebounds, six assists) and Oso Ighodaro (five points and two rebounds) did a great job in his minutes in the second half. Every game, Plumlee exhibits why he was one of the most underrated free agency pickups this offseason.
– Bradley Beal had a season-high 28 points on 9-of-18 shooting to go along with eight rebounds and scored all seven of Phoenix’s points in overtime. He went down with a knee injury in overtime, but did end up finishing the game.
– Phoenix once again hoped the 3-point line would be its friend, attempting a franchise-record 57 3-pointers to 37 attempts for Sacramento. Both teams struggled from deep, as the Kings only had 11 makes (29.7%), while the Suns knocked down 18 (31.6%).
Phoenix next travels to play the Utah Jazz on Tuesday.
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
