Kings at Suns
THE STORY: The Phoenix Suns will conclude a six-game homestand by trying to get over the .500 mark in their home confines against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday. Phoenix is 4-1 on the homestand and defeated the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday to boost its home record to 9-9. Sacramento has been brutal on the road, dropping to 4-18 with Friday’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Overall, the Kings have lost eight of their last 10 games.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet California (Sacramento), Fox Sports Arizona (Phoenix),
ABOUT THE KINGS (12-24): Rookie guard Jimmer Fredette scored 12 final-quarter points against the Lakers to reach double figures in back-to-back games for the first time since January. Fredette has connected on five 3-pointers in the last two games after making just five over his previous seven games. The former college standout hasn’t even been the best rookie guard on the Kings. That honor goes to guard Isaiah Thomas, who was named the Western Conference Rookie of the Month for February and has started Sacramento’s last seven games. Thomas is averaging 16.8 points over the last eight contests.
ABOUT THE SUNS (16-20): Phoenix shot just 35.0 percent from the field in the 81-78 victory over the Clippers. The percentage was the lowest in a Suns’ victory since a 33.3 percent showing against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Nov. 1, 2002. The Suns prevailed due to defense, as forward Channing Frye did a solid job forcing Blake Griffin (6 of 19) into his worst shooting performance of the season and Grant Hill swatted away Chris Paul’s game-tying 3-point attempt in the final seconds. The Suns have held four teams below 80 points, matching last season’s output.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Sacramento won in its most recent visit to Phoenix (last season) to snap a 10-game road losing streak in the series.
2. Suns guard Jared Dudley had 22 points against the Clippers. Phoenix is 7-2 when Dudley scored 16 or more points.
3. Kings center DeMarcus Cousins had 10 points and 13 rebounds against the Lakers for his 23rd double-double.