Suns Vs Kings

The Phoenix Suns aim to extend their winning streak to eight games as they welcome the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night. While victories have been piling up, the Suns hope to avoid yet another nail-biting finish, like the one they experienced on Friday.

In their latest outing, Jusuf Nurkic delivered the deciding blow, sinking a tiebreaking free throw with just 0.8 seconds remaining to lift Phoenix to a narrow 114-113 win over the Dallas Mavericks. This victory not only marked the Suns’ seventh straight win but was also their third consecutive triumph by a margin of three points or fewer. Phoenix’s eight wins this season have come with an overall point differential of just 37, underscoring their knack for close finishes.

Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer spoke on the team’s recent trend of edging out opponents in tight contests, noting, “It feels like every night it’s been one. Winning close games on the road builds confidence, builds toughness.” The Suns have indeed proven resilient in crunch time, both on the road and at home. Before facing Dallas, Phoenix went undefeated in a three-game homestand, securing close victories over the Portland Trail Blazers, Philadelphia 76ers, and Miami Heat, winning by six, two, and three points respectively.

While stars like Kevin Durant and Devin Booker usually steal the spotlight, Nurkic has quietly emerged as Phoenix’s most reliable player in the fourth quarter. He currently leads the team with a fourth-quarter plus/minus of +21 and is posting a stellar 75.0 percent field goal rate in the final period, along with six offensive rebounds. Despite a left calf strain sidelining Durant for about two weeks, Nurkic’s clutch performances have helped sustain Phoenix's momentum.

Nurkic will face off on Sunday against Kings star Domantas Sabonis, who comes into the game fresh off his eighth straight double-double, having scored 23 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the Kings’ 107-98 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday. Sabonis, known for his all-around abilities, nearly recorded four consecutive triple-doubles last season when the Kings and Suns met five times, a rare scheduling quirk. Two of those triple-doubles came in losses in Phoenix, where Sabonis delivered impressive stat lines, including a 35-point, 18-rebound, 12-assist outing in February.

Sacramento struggled with long-range shooting in their recent game against the Clippers, missing 23 of their 26 three-point attempts. This marked the fifth instance in six games where they shot 33.3 percent or less from beyond the arc. Sabonis was 0-for-2 from deep, and apart from De’Aaron Fox, who made two of his five attempts, Sacramento’s starters combined to miss all 13 of their attempts. Keegan Murray notably missed six straight from three-point range.

Despite Sacramento’s shooting woes, Kings coach Mike Brown remains optimistic about his team’s three-point potential, believing they can bounce back against Phoenix. “It doesn’t matter who we play. We want to let it fly,” Brown said, confident in his team’s approach. He added, “We feel like we’re a good 3-point shooting team. Although the numbers might not point that direction right now, we have guys who can knock that shot down.”

Currently, Sacramento ranks near the bottom of the NBA in three-point shooting with a 30.7 percent success rate. In contrast, Phoenix has been one of the league’s better teams from beyond the arc, boasting a 38.3 percent three-point shooting percentage, with standout contributions from Royce O’Neale at 52.6 percent and Durant at 42.9 percent before his injury.

Sunday’s matchup will not only test Phoenix’s ability to close out tight games but also gauge Sacramento’s resilience under adversity. The Suns’ depth and adaptability will be on full display as they try to sustain their winning streak, while the Kings will look to improve their shooting and return to winning ways. This intriguing matchup of divisional rivals could provide insight into each team’s trajectory this season, setting the stage for an exciting Pacific Division battle.