The Sacramento Kings are aiming to clinch the season series against the Phoenix Suns as they head to Phoenix.
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The Sacramento Kings are aiming to clinch the season series against the Phoenix Suns as they head to Phoenix for their fourth matchup of the regular season on Tuesday night.
Thanks to a last-minute addition to the schedule due to the NBA’s in-season tournament, the Suns had the upper hand of hosting the Kings three times this season. However, they relinquished that advantage when they suffered a 114-106 defeat in Phoenix on December 8th, marking the first clash between the two teams.
Since then, the teams have traded victories, with each team securing a win on their home court. As they enter the final stretch of the five-game season series, both teams have one remaining home game. Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox have emerged as pivotal figures in the Kings’ triumphs over the Suns this season.
For the Suns, Lee will not be playing the game due to a knee injury. As for the Kings, Vezenkov will sit this one out due to an ankle injury. Besides, Duarte could also miss out on the game due to an ankle injury.
The Kings have stumbled in three of their last four games, slipping half a game behind the Suns in the Pacific Division standings. Both teams are currently trailing the Los Angeles Clippers. Sacramento, coming off a 127-113 loss to Oklahoma City on Sunday, faces a challenging three-game road trip, concluding with a matchup against Denver on Wednesday in the second leg of a back-to-back.
This downturn in performance aligns with the Kings’ decision to stay put at the trade deadline, contrasting with other playoff contenders, including the Suns, who actively sought to improve their rosters. Sacramento coach Mike Brown stood firm in defense of the team’s decision over the weekend.
The Suns acquired Royce O’Neale from the Brooklyn Nets and David Roddy from the Memphis Grizzlies just before the trade deadline. O’Neale made his debut for Phoenix on Saturday in a close 113-112 loss to Golden State, chipping in with three points and four rebounds in 11 minutes off the bench. Meanwhile, Roddy did not see any playing time.
Suns general manager James Jones clarified that these acquisitions were made with an eye on both the present and future.
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