Preview: Kings look to snap two-game skid, close in on clinch vs. Suns

Mar 24, 2023, 8:52 AM | Updated: 2:45 pm

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 20: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball up court a...

(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Editor & Kings Beat Writer

If it feels like the Sacramento Kings are on the precipice of doing something special, it’s because they are.

With a win over the Phoenix Suns on Friday night, the Kings can bring themselves to the doorstep of clinching the franchise’s first NBA Playoff berth since the 2005-06 season.

Sacramento (43-29) can also put the Suns in its rear-view as they close in on securing its first Pacific Division title since 2002-03.

The Kings enter play on Friday with a five-game lead over Phoenix in both the Pacific Division and Western Conference standings, meaning that a win would put six games between the two teams with just nine games remaining in the regular season.

Phoenix (38-34) has fallen on hard times with All-Star forward Kevin Durant (ankle) and center Deandre Ayton (hip) sidelined, as the Suns have posted a 1-5 record over its past six games.

Friday’s game is vital for a 4th-seed Suns team that sits just 2.5 games ahead of the 11th-seed Oklahoma City Thunder in the chaotic West standings.

A playoff berth is on the horizon for Sacramento, whose magic number of 3 could be reduced to 2 if things go their way around the NBA over the next 24 hours.

It all starts with Phoenix on Friday, and the Kings will need to avoid its first three-game losing streak since November 23-28th if they want to have a chance at clinching a playoff berth at Golden 1 Center on Saturday or Monday before going back on the road.

Sacramento Kings vs. Phoenix Suns Game Info

When: 7:00 PM PST

Where: Golden 1 Center – Sacramento, CA

TV: NBC Sports California

Radio: Sactown Sports 1140 AM – Pregame coverage starts at 5:30 PM PST on Game Night

Line: Kings -3.5, O/U: 239

Tickets: Click Here

All Eyes On Book

With Durant and Ayton out on Friday, the Sacramento Kings will want to pay extra close attention to Devin Booker.

The three-time All-Star guard has been on a tear in March, averaging 34.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game while shooting 58 percent from the field and 44 percent from three-point range over 10 appearances.

Sacramento’s infamous defense has struggled to contain Booker this season, allowing the high-scoring guard to average 34.7 points on 61 percent shooting during three head-to-head matchups this season.

Phoenix’s offense has sputtered without Durant and Ayton, scoring 112.6 points over the past five games (against the Kings’ league-leading 120.9 points per game this season).

Booker has done all that he can to put his team on his back, but with the secondary scoring option being the aging Chris Paul and third option being bench guard Landry Shamet, opposing defenses have to like their chances against this depleted Suns lineup.

14 points in Q3 for Devin Booker 👀

Suns trail by 3 entering the fourth.

📺: Live on ESPN pic.twitter.com/q1a3xayIhr

— NBA (@NBA) March 23, 2023

The Suns are playing for its postseason lives as they sit just two games ahead of Play-In territory and 2.5 games ahead of the tenth and final spot in the West, meaning that Booker will be playing with some extra motivation on Friday.

Sacramento has a bad habit of letting opposing stars get essentially whatever they want on the offensive end. If the Kings can hold Booker in check, it’s going to be hard for the Suns’ supporting cast to out-gun Sacramento’s lethal offense.

Limit Second-Chance Opportunities

Physicality will be a large aspect of NBA Playoff basketball, and the Kings got a preview of what that could look like during Tuesday’s loss to the Boston Celtics.

Sacramento got worked on the offensive glass by a physical Celtics team, as Boston pulled down 11 offensive rebounds, which resulted in 17 second-chance points. Although Ayton is out, it will be important to see if the Kings can establish itself in the paint and make it clear that they won’t be pushed around again.

Phoenix’s frontline will be thin on Friday, meaning that Domantas Sabonis will have an ample opportunity to add onto his league-leading rebound total.

The Suns have kept the All-Star big at bay when it comes to rebounding the basketball, as Sabonis has averaged 10.7 rebounds during three appearances against Phoenix this season, including an eight-rebound performance–his lowest rebound total since February 6th–during the most-recent matchup between the two teams on March 11th.

Sabonis is on pace to do something only Wilt Chamberlain has done 😳

(h/t @FCartoscelli3) pic.twitter.com/JClMOD1Iwg

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 24, 2023

Sabonis has been having a historic month of March, as the center is averaging 20.5 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 8.9 assists per game during 11 contests.

The 26-year-old will look to bounce back from his eight-rebound outing against the Suns a few weeks ago by keeping Phoenix from tacking on second-chance points this time around, something that could be crucial for a short-handed team like the Suns.

Injury Report

Sacramento

Kevin Huerter – QUESTIONABLE (right Popliteus strain)

After missing the past three games due to a right Popliteus strain, Huerter is nearing a return to game-action. The 24-year-old was a full participant in Thursday’s practice.

According to a league source, the Kings’ medical staff will evaluate Huerter on Friday morning to see how he feels before deciding on his status against Phoenix.

UPDATE: During shoot-around on Friday morning, Huerter told the media that he expects to make his return vs. Phoenix.

Phoenix

Deandre Ayton – OUT (right hip contusion)
Kevin Durant – OUT (left ankle sprain)

Next Game

Sacramento will have a chance to all but ensure its first Pacific Division championship since the 2002-03 season if they can beat the Phoenix Suns on Friday night at Golden 1 Center.

Be sure to get all of your Kings vs. Suns coverage right here on Sactown Sports 1140 beginning at 5:30 PM PST on Game Night with Scott Marsh and Henry ‘The High Flyer’ Turner before a 7:00 PM PST tip-off from downtown Sacramento.