Kings at Suns
The top two picks of the 2018 NBA Draft will be on the floor together when the Phoenix Suns host the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday. Top overall pick Deandre Ayton is making an instant impact for the Suns while No. 2 pick Marvin Bagley III is being brought along at a slower pace by the Kings.
Ayton, who played at Arizona, has started all 23 of Phoenix's games and is averaging 16.2 points and 10.2 rebounds while shooting 59.9 percent from the field. Bagley, who played for Duke, is averaging 13 points and 6.8 rebounds in 21 games off the bench and hopes to be available after missing Saturday's victory over the Indiana Pacers due to back spasms. Bagley's team is performing better at the .500 mark while the Suns have lost five straight games and entered Monday with the worst mark in the NBA. Phoenix star shooting guard Devin Booker (hamstring) will miss multiple games after being injured during Sunday's 120-96 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, NCBS California (Sacramento), FS Arizona
ABOUT THE KINGS (11-11): Second-year shooting guard Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 20 points against the Pacers for his third straight effort of 20 or more points. Bogdanovic is finding his stride after returning from knee surgery less than four weeks ago. "It's not been easy for him to have the injury that he had and try to catch up a little bit and get his rhythm," Sacramento coach Dave Joerger told reporters. "I think he finally felt very comfortable (last week). Whether the shots are going in or not doesn't make a difference if you're finding a rhythm. I think he's starting to feel a little bit better and that's good for us."
ABOUT THE SUNS (4-19): The club figures to be cautious with Booker since this is the second time he has injured the left hamstring this season. Phoenix struggles even when it has its best player and is on pace to win just 15 games this season. "It's kind of hard not to focus on the record, but we've still got games to play," forward Josh Jackson told reporters. "We show flashes of how good we could be. We just have to be able to start stringing those runs together and just be better all the time. The more consistent we get, the better we'll be."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Suns went 3-1 against the Kings last season and won both games in Phoenix.
2. Sacramento PG De'Aaron Fox was just 4-of-16 shooting against the Pacers is 25-of-78 over the past six games.
3. Phoenix SF T.J. Warren (ankle) could miss his third straight game.