Game ID: 22301228
Sacramento Kings @ Phoenix Suns
Friday, December 8, 2023 at 9:00 PM ET
Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
PHX 26 33 12 35 106SAC 24 26 33 31 114
PHX vs SAC ScoutingPHX vs SAC Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
PHX availability going into 11/29 · 2 days' restOUT Durant missed 2 since 11/24, returns tonight: 36 min (95% of 38)
OUT Beal missed 7 since 11/15, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 10 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK Watanabe back 11/26 after 4, 15 min since (113% of 13)
BACK Metu back 11/21 after 2, 11 min since (94% of 12)
NEW Gordon 28 to 35 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 12/01 · 1 day's restOUT Beal missed 8 since 11/15, out tonight
OUT Allen missed 2 since 11/26, returns tonight: 37 min (111% of 33)
OUT Bol missed 11 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK Durant back 11/29 after 2, 36 min since (95% of 38)
BACK Watanabe back 11/26 after 4, 15 min since (117% of 13)
BACK Metu back 11/21 after 2, 12 min since (100% of 12)
NEW Gordon 28 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Okogie 16 to 22 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 12/02 · back-to-backOUT Beal missed 9 since 11/15, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 12 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK Durant back 11/29 after 2, 36 min since (96% of 38)
BACK Allen back 12/01 after 2, 37 min since (111% of 33)
BACK Watanabe back 11/26 after 4, 15 min since (117% of 13)
NEW Okogie 16 to 24 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 12/05 · 2 days' restOUT Beal missed 10 since 11/15, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 13 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK Durant back 11/29 after 2, 35 min since (93% of 38)
BACK Allen back 12/01 after 2, 35 min since (105% of 33)
BACK Watanabe back 11/26 after 4, 15 min since (116% of 13)
NEW Gordon 28 to 34 min over the last 4
NEW Okogie 16 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW Goodwin 14 to 22 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 12/08 · 2 days' restOUT Beal missed 11 since 11/15, out tonight
OUT Metu missed 2 since 12/02, returns tonight: 23 min (192% of 12)
OUT Bol missed 14 since 11/08, returns tonight: 1 min (8% of 11)
BACK Durant back 11/29 after 2, 36 min since (95% of 38)
BACK Allen back 12/01 after 2, 36 min since (110% of 33)
BACK Watanabe back 11/26 after 4, 15 min since (116% of 13)
NEW Gordon 28 to 34 min over the last 4
NEW Goodwin 14 to 21 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 12/12 · 3 days' restOUT Beal missed 12 since 11/15, returns tonight: 27 min (81% of 34)
BACK Durant back 11/29 after 2, 36 min since (95% of 38)
BACK Allen back 12/01 after 2, 36 min since (110% of 33)
BACK Metu back 12/08 after 2, 23 min since (192% of 12)
BACK Bol back 12/08 after 14, 1 min since (8% of 11)
NEW Gordon 28 to 35 min over the last 4
NEW Okogie 16 to 23 min over the last 5
NEW Goodwin 14 to 19 min over the last 5
NEW Watanabe 13 to 18 min over the last 3
PHX availability going into 12/13 · back-to-backOUT Durant missed 2 since 12/08, returns tonight: 38 min (101% of 38)
OUT Allen missed 2 since 12/08, out tonight
BACK Beal back 12/12 after 12, 27 min since (81% of 34)
BACK Metu back 12/08 after 2, 24 min since (201% of 12)
BACK Bol back 12/08 after 14, 3 min since (26% of 11)
NEW Gordon 28 to 34 min over the last 4
NEW Goodwin 14 to 21 min over the last 5
NEW Watanabe 13 to 20 min over the last 3
PHX availability going into 12/15 · 1 day's restOUT Allen missed 3 since 12/08, returns tonight: 36 min (107% of 33)
BACK Durant back 12/13 after 2, 38 min since (101% of 38)
BACK Beal back 12/12 after 12, 30 min since (90% of 34)
BACK Metu back 12/08 after 2, 23 min since (190% of 12)
BACK Bol back 12/08 after 14, 3 min since (26% of 11)
NEW Gordon 28 to 35 min over the last 3
NEW Goodwin 14 to 22 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 12/17 · 1 day's restOUT Gordon missed 2 since 12/13, returns tonight: 30 min (109% of 28)
OUT Okogie missed 2 since 12/13, out tonight
BACK Durant back 12/13 after 2, 37 min since (98% of 38)
BACK Beal back 12/12 after 12, 22 min since (65% of 34)
BACK Allen back 12/15 after 3, 36 min since (107% of 33)
BACK Metu back 12/08 after 2, 20 min since (163% of 12)
BACK Bol back 12/08 after 14, 3 min since (24% of 11)
NEW Goodwin 14 to 23 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 11/28 · 3 days' restOUT Murray missed 2 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Ellis missed 3 since 11/20, returns tonight: 6 min (33% of 17)
BACK Mitchell back 11/19 after 3, 12 min since (76% of 15)
NEW Duarte 12 to 19 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 11/29 · back-to-backOUT Murray missed 3 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK Ellis back 11/28 after 3, 6 min since (33% of 17)
BACK Mitchell back 11/19 after 3, 11 min since (73% of 15)
NEW Duarte 12 to 19 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 12/02 · 2 days' restOUT Murray missed 4 since 11/22, returns tonight: 23 min (70% of 34)
BACK Ellis back 11/28 after 3, 6 min since (33% of 17)
SAC availability going into 12/04 · 1 day's restBACK Murray back 12/02 after 4, 23 min since (70% of 34)
BACK Ellis back 11/28 after 3, 7 min since (40% of 17)
NEW Duarte 12 to 17 min over the last 4
SAC availability going into 12/08 · 3 days' restOUT Mitchell missed 2 since 12/02, returns tonight: 1 min (6% of 15)
OUT Duarte missed 2 since 12/02, returns tonight: 1 min (7% of 12)
BACK Murray back 12/02 after 4, 27 min since (81% of 34)
BACK Ellis back 11/28 after 3, 7 min since (42% of 17)
SAC availability going into 12/11 · 2 days' restBACK Murray back 12/02 after 4, 28 min since (84% of 34)
BACK Ellis back 11/28 after 3, 10 min since (57% of 17)
BACK Mitchell back 12/08 after 2, 1 min since (6% of 15)
BACK Duarte back 12/08 after 2, 1 min since (7% of 12)
SAC availability going into 12/12 · back-to-backBACK Murray back 12/02 after 4, 30 min since (88% of 34)
BACK Mitchell back 12/08 after 2, 2 min since (11% of 15)
BACK Duarte back 12/08 after 2, 2 min since (16% of 12)
SAC availability going into 12/14 · 1 day's restBACK Murray back 12/02 after 4, 30 min since (89% of 34)
BACK Mitchell back 12/08 after 2, 6 min since (39% of 15)
BACK Duarte back 12/08 after 2, 5 min since (43% of 12)
SAC availability going into 12/16 · 1 day's restBACK Mitchell back 12/08 after 2, 6 min since (39% of 15)
BACK Duarte back 12/08 after 2, 5 min since (43% of 12)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 27 free throws a game; Durant at 30 and Booker at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Beal (11 straight). 2 days' rest. Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 122, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 26 free throws a game; Fox at 32 and Monk at 20 a game. Without Mitchell (2 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the defense, Phoenix allowing 112 a night to Sacramento's 122. Call it Phoenix 117, Sacramento 115, Sacramento keeping it close.
11/29 @ TOR 105-112 — PHX notes
PHX lost 105-112. PHX shot 40% (38 of 94) to TOR's 45%, 7 of 26 from three. Durant led with 30 (11 of 30, 2 of 8 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Nurkić added 19, Gordon 10. Q3 was theirs, 27-26, the deficit cut from 7 to 6, but the other 3 periods went 86-78 against them. Booker's -15 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/01 vs DEN 111-119 — PHX notes
PHX lost 111-119. PHX shot 46% (39 of 84) to DEN's 57%, 9 of 27 from three, and went to the line 26 times to DEN's 12 — 24 points from the stripe to their 7. The glass went 43-32 for them. Nurkić led with 31 (13 of 22, 2 of 6 from three); Durant added 30, Gordon 16. Q2 was theirs, 33-29, the deficit cut from 11 to 7, but the other 3 periods went 90-78 against them. Bates-Diop's -10 in 17 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/02 vs MEM 116-109 — PHX notes
PHX won 116-109. PHX shot 43% (36 of 83) to MEM's 45%, 9 of 26 from three, and went to the line 43 times to MEM's 24 — 35 points from the stripe to their 22. Booker led with 34 (9 of 21, 3 of 8 from three, 13 of 13 at the line); Durant added 27, Nurkić 14. The hinge was Q3, 34-21: PHX came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 12, and the lead reached 16. PHX trailed 50-51 at the half and won the second half 66-58. Okogie was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
12/05 @ LAL 103-106 — PHX notes
PHX lost 103-106. PHX shot 49% (37 of 75) to LAL's 37%, 12 of 25 from three. PHX turned it over 20 times to LAL's 9, and LAL turned those into 11 steals. Durant led with 31 (12 of 17, 4 of 7 from three); Allen added 21, Booker 21. Q3 was theirs, 35-24, the deficit cut from 12 to 1, but the other 3 periods went 82-68 against them. Eubanks's -16 in 18 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/08 vs SAC 106-114 — PHX notes
PHX lost 106-114. PHX shot 48% (40 of 83) to SAC's 46%, 11 of 32 from three. The glass went 40-50 against them. Booker led with 28 (10 of 14, 6 of 9 at the line); Gordon added 19, Nurkić 15. Q2 was theirs, 33-26, but the other 3 periods went 88-73 against them. They led by as many as 11. Watanabe's -13 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/12 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 27 free throws a game; Durant at 30 and Booker at 23 a game. Without Beal (12 straight). 3 days' rest. Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 119, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 28 free throws a game; Curry at 28 and Thompson at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Jackson-Davis (5 straight), Payton II (4 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Golden State has been plus-9 a night and Phoenix plus-0 and the defense, Phoenix allowing 112 a night to Golden State's 119. Call it Phoenix 116, Golden State 114, Golden State keeping it close.
12/13 vs BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 29 free throws a game; Durant at 29 and Booker at 29 a game. Without Durant (2 straight), Allen (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Brooklyn comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 114, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Bridges at 28 and Thomas at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Simmons (15 straight), Smith Jr. (2 straight), Walker IV (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Brooklyn wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Brooklyn has been plus-8 a night and Phoenix minus-1 and the line, where Phoenix takes 29 free throws a game to Brooklyn's 22. Call it Brooklyn 116, Phoenix 114, Phoenix keeping it close.
12/15 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 112, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 30 free throws a game; Booker at 30 and Durant at 28 a game. Without Allen (3 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 126, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 26 free throws a game; Randle at 29 and Brunson at 23 a game. Without Robinson (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the defense, Phoenix allowing 112 a night to New York's 126. Call it Phoenix 117, New York 114, New York keeping it close.
12/17 vs WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Durant at 29 and Booker at 29 a game. Without Gordon (2 straight), Okogie (2 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 133, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Kuzma at 22 and Poole at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Shamet (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the defense, Phoenix allowing 118 a night to Washington's 133 and the glass, where Phoenix has been minus-3 a night and Washington minus-7. Call it Phoenix 123, Washington 115.
11/28 vs GSW 124-123 — SAC notes
SAC won 124-123. SAC shot 45% (41 of 91) to GSW's 48%, 15 of 44 from three, and went to the line 42 times to GSW's 30 — 27 points from the stripe to their 26. SAC turned it over 10 times to GSW's 18. Fox led with 29 (9 of 20, 2 of 8 from three, 9 of 17 at the line); Huerter added 21, Monk 21. The hinge was Q4, 29-19: SAC came in trailing by 9 and left it ahead by 1. SAC trailed 55-72 at the half and won the second half 69-51. Vezenkov was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
11/29 vs LAC 117-131 — SAC notes
SAC lost 117-131. SAC shot 47% (40 of 86) to LAC's 54%, 13 of 41 from three, and went to the line 28 times to LAC's 22 — 24 points from the stripe to their 17. SAC turned it over 14 times to LAC's 4, and LAC turned those into 8 steals. The glass went 47-37 for them. Fox led with 40 (14 of 23, 3 of 8 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); Monk added 15, Vezenkov 13. Q4 was theirs, 36-29, the deficit cut from 21 to 14, but the other 3 periods went 102-81 against them. Sabonis's -19 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/02 vs DEN 123-117 — SAC notes
SAC won 123-117. SAC shot 48% (48 of 99) to DEN's 49%, 16 of 34 from three. Fox led with 26 (10 of 22, 3 of 6 from three); Monk added 26, Sabonis 17. The hinge was Q2, 39-20: SAC came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 14, and the lead reached 17. Fox was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
12/04 vs NOP 117-127 — SAC notes
SAC lost 117-127. SAC shot 45% (38 of 85) to NOP's 54%, 14 of 41 from three, and went to the line 33 times to NOP's 23 — 27 points from the stripe to their 19. Fox led with 30 (10 of 25, 1 of 7 from three, 9 of 13 at the line); Sabonis added 26, Monk 21. Q1 was theirs, 36-35, but the other 3 periods went 92-81 against them. They led by as many as 15. Monk's -17 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/08 @ PHX 114-106 — SAC notes
SAC won 114-106. SAC shot 46% (42 of 92) to PHX's 48%, 14 of 39 from three. The glass went 50-40 for them. Fox led with 34 (11 of 24, 4 of 7 from three, 8 of 10 at the line); Sabonis added 15, Vezenkov 14. The hinge was Q3, 33-12: SAC came in trailing by 9 and left it ahead by 12, and the lead reached 15. SAC trailed 50-59 at the half and won the second half 64-47. Monk was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
12/11 vs BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 121, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 28 free throws a game; Fox at 32 and Monk at 19 a game. 2 days' rest. Brooklyn comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Bridges at 28 and Thomas at 17 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Simmons (14 straight), Walker IV (3 straight), Clowney (6 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Brooklyn wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Brooklyn has been plus-11 a night and Sacramento plus-2 and the defense, Brooklyn allowing 109 a night to Sacramento's 121. Call it Brooklyn 117, Sacramento 116, Sacramento keeping it close.
12/12 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Leonard at 27 and George at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Coffey (4 straight), Tucker (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 120, shooting 47 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Fox at 32 and Monk at 19 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 113 a night to Sacramento's 120 and the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-4 a night and the Clippers minus-0. Call it the Clippers 118, Sacramento 114, Sacramento keeping it close.
12/14 vs OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; Fox at 27 and Monk at 18 a game. One day's rest. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 119, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 30 and Jal. Williams at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been minus-0 a night and OKC minus-7 and the arc, Sacramento at 40 percent from three to OKC's 36. Call it OKC 119, Sacramento 118, Sacramento keeping it close.
12/16 vs UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 119, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Fox at 30 and Sabonis at 18 a game. One day's rest. Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 125, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 20 free throws a game; Sexton at 19 and Horton-Tucker at 15 a game. Without Clarkson (2 straight), Collins (3 straight), Juzang (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the arc, Sacramento at 39 percent from three to Utah's 34 and the defense, Sacramento allowing 119 a night to Utah's 125. Call it Sacramento 121, Utah 114.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
PHXCM C. Metu
DB D. Booker
DE D. Eubanks
EG E. Gordon
JG J. Goodwin
JN J. Nurkić
JO J. Okogie
KB K. Bates-Diop
NL N. Little
NU Nurkic
SL S. Lee
YW Y. Watanabe
SACAV A. Vezenkov
DF D. Fox
DS D. Sabonis
HB H. Barnes
JM J. McGee
KE K. Edwards
KE K. Ellis
KH K. Huerter
KM K. Murray
MM M. Monk
TL T. Lyles
PHX/SAC the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Fox scores 23 of 34 points in 4th quarter, Kings pull away late to beat the Suns 114-106
PHOENIX -- — The short-handed Phoenix Suns kept hitting shots in the fourth quarter, trying to steal a victory at home against the Sacramento Kings on Friday night.
De'Aaron Fox simply wouldn't let them.
Fox scored 23 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter, Domantas Sabonis added 15 points and 17 rebounds and the Kings pulled away late to beat the Suns 114-106 on Friday night.
“Shots started going in,” Fox said. “It's really simple as that. Tried to stay aggressive, teammates getting me open with screens and getting matchups that we like. It all just came together in the fourth quarter for myself.”
Fox — a seventh-year guard — shot 8 of 13 in the fourth quarter, including all four of his 3-point tries. The 2022 All-Star is averaging 30.5 points, which is easily a career high.
The Kings won their third straight game in the series. Devin Booker led the Suns with 28 points on 10-of-14 shooting and added seven rebounds and seven assists.
The Suns — playing without stars Kevin Durant (ankle) and Bradley Beal (back) — led 59-50 at halftime after a 13-3 run to end the second quarter. Booker shot 7 of 9 from the field before the break, scoring 18 points. Sabonis led the Kings with 10.
But the Kings flipped the advantage in hurry, taking an 83-71 lead into the fourth quarter. Phoenix scored just 12 points in the third, struggling to find opportunities for the double-teamed Booker.
“Really, we were just throwing junk defenses at them,” Fox said. “Stuff that we really hadn't even worked on. Those are the kinds of things you have to be able to do on the fly, especially when someone like Booker gets it going.”
Said Suns coach Frank Vogel: "That's when they made their move. Credit their coaching staff, they did a good job mixing coverages throughout the game."
Sacramento pushed ahead by 15 early in the fourth but the Suns hit four straight 3-pointers to stay in the game. The Kings would remain in control — partly because of a five-point swing by Fox.
Fox was fouled on a 3-point attempt by Jusuf Nurkic with 6:08 left in the game and the call was upgraded to a Flagrant 1 because Nurkic didn't give space for Fox to land after the jumper. Fox hit two of three free throws and then made a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession, pushing the Kings ahead 101-90.
Sacramento got lots of production from its bench. Rookie Sasha Vezenkov scored 14 points, Malik Monk had 13 and Keon Ellis added 10.
The Suns fell to 5-6 at home this season. Eric Gordon scored 19 points while Nurkic added 15 points and nine rebounds.
“We're not there yet," Gordon said. “We're going to get there. We've just got to continue grinding through — lots of injuries, lots of things happening, but will be fine. Our effort's there.”
The teams played after both lost in the quarterfinals of the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament. The Suns fell to the Lakers, while the Kings lost to the Pelicans.