Fox scores 23 of 34 points in 4th quarter, Kings pull away late to beat the Suns 114-106
PHOENIX (AP) 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.
UP NEXT
Kings: Host Brooklyn on Monday night.
Suns: Host Golden State on Tuesday night.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Domantas Sabonis vs. Eric Gordon (Josh Okogie gains possession) | |||
11:42 | Kevin Huerter personal foul (Jusuf Nurkic draws the foul) | |||
11:41 | Devin Booker turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
11:27 | Domantas Sabonis turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
11:16 | +3 | Eric Gordon makes three point jump shot (Devin Booker assists) | 0-3 | |
11:05 | De'Aaron Fox misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
11:03 | Devin Booker defensive rebound | |||
10:54 | +3 | Keita Bates-Diop makes three point jump shot (Jusuf Nurkic assists) | 0-6 | |
10:32 | Josh Okogie personal foul (Domantas Sabonis draws the foul) | |||
10:25 | Harrison Barnes misses three point jump shot | |||
10:22 | Keita Bates-Diop defensive rebound | |||
10:14 | +2 | Eric Gordon makes two point driving layup (Keita Bates-Diop assists) | 0-8 | |
10:05 | +2 | Keegan Murray makes two point driving dunk (De'Aaron Fox assists) | 2-8 | |
9:46 | Eric Gordon turnover (bad pass) (Keegan Murray steals) | |||
9:42 | Keegan Murray misses three point running jump shot | |||
9:39 | Domantas Sabonis offensive rebound | |||
9:35 | Kevin Huerter misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
9:32 | Devin Booker defensive rebound | |||
9:26 | +3 | Devin Booker makes three point pullup jump shot | 2-11 | |
9:15 | De'Aaron Fox misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
9:13 | Jusuf Nurkic defensive rebound | |||
8:55 | Eric Gordon turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
8:50 | Keegan Murray misses three point jump shot | |||
8:47 | Keita Bates-Diop defensive rebound | |||
8:35 | Josh Okogie misses two point driving layup | |||
8:33 | Josh Okogie offensive rebound | |||
8:32 | Josh Okogie turnover (bad pass) (De'Aaron Fox steals) | |||
8:25 | Harrison Barnes misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
8:22 | Domantas Sabonis offensive rebound | |||
8:19 | Eric Gordon personal foul (De'Aaron Fox draws the foul) | |||
8:12 | De'Aaron Fox misses three point jump shot | |||
8:08 | Domantas Sabonis offensive rebound | |||
8:05 | +2 | Domantas Sabonis makes two point putback layup | 4-11 | |
7:49 | +2 | Devin Booker makes two point driving layup | 4-13 | |
7:41 | +2 | De'Aaron Fox makes two point driving floating jump shot | 6-13 | |
7:24 | Jusuf Nurkic misses three point jump shot | |||
7:21 | Domantas Sabonis defensive rebound | |||
7:14 | Domantas Sabonis misses two point driving layup | |||
7:11 | Jusuf Nurkic defensive rebound | |||
6:58 | +2 | Devin Booker makes two point driving finger roll layup | 6-15 | |
6:40 | +2 | Domantas Sabonis makes two point driving layup | 8-15 | |
6:26 | Jusuf Nurkic misses three point jump shot | |||
6:23 | Domantas Sabonis defensive rebound | |||
6:10 | Keegan Murray misses three point jump shot | |||
6:07 | Suns defensive rebound | |||
6:07 | Suns 60 second timeout | |||
5:53 | Devin Booker misses two point jump shot | |||
5:45 | Trey Lyles defensive rebound | |||
5:32 | +3 | Keegan Murray makes three point jump shot (Trey Lyles assists) | 11-15 | |
5:14 | +2 | Devin Booker makes two point pullup jump shot (Jusuf Nurkic assists) | 11-17 | |
4:52 | +3 | Trey Lyles makes three point jump shot (Domantas Sabonis assists) | 14-17 | |
4:33 | Eric Gordon misses two point driving hook shot | |||
4:30 | Keegan Murray defensive rebound | |||
4:27 | Keon Ellis misses three point running jump shot | |||
4:23 | Devin Booker defensive rebound | |||
4:19 | Keon Ellis personal foul (Devin Booker draws the foul) | |||
4:04 | +2 | Chimezie Metu makes two point driving layup (Jordan Goodwin assists) | 14-19 | |
3:54 | Josh Okogie shooting foul (Domantas Sabonis draws the foul) | |||
3:54 | +1 | Domantas Sabonis makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 15-19 | |
3:54 | +1 | Domantas Sabonis makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 16-19 | |
3:35 | Jusuf Nurkic misses two point hook shot | |||
3:32 | Trey Lyles defensive rebound | |||
3:27 | Malik Monk misses three point running jump shot | |||
3:24 | Jusuf Nurkic defensive rebound | |||
3:15 | +2 | Jusuf Nurkic makes two point driving layup | 16-21 | |
3:05 | Keon Ellis turnover (bad pass) (Jusuf Nurkic steals) | |||
2:56 | Domantas Sabonis shooting foul (Jusuf Nurkic draws the foul) | |||
2:56 | Kings 60 second timeout | |||
2:56 | Jusuf Nurkic misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
2:56 | Suns offensive rebound | |||
2:56 | +1 | Jusuf Nurkic makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 16-22 | |
2:43 | Sasha Vezenkov misses three point jump shot | |||
2:38 | Nassir Little defensive rebound | |||
2:31 | JaVale McGee shooting foul (Jusuf Nurkic draws the foul) | |||
2:31 | Jusuf Nurkic misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
2:31 | Suns offensive rebound | |||
2:31 | Jusuf Nurkic misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
2:29 | Trey Lyles defensive rebound | |||
2:14 | Malik Monk turnover (bad pass) (Chimezie Metu steals) | |||
2:07 | Eric Gordon misses three point jump shot | |||
2:03 | Trey Lyles defensive rebound | |||
1:53 | +2 | Sasha Vezenkov makes two point cutting layup (De'Aaron Fox assists) | 18-22 | |
1:38 | Eric Gordon misses three point jump shot | |||
1:36 | Jusuf Nurkic offensive rebound | |||
1:34 | Jusuf Nurkic misses two point hook shot | |||
1:34 | Malik Monk defensive rebound | |||
1:28 | +2 | Sasha Vezenkov makes two point running alley-oop layup (Malik Monk assists) | 20-22 | |
1:20 | Chimezie Metu misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
1:17 | JaVale McGee defensive rebound | |||
1:11 | +2 | De'Aaron Fox makes two point driving layup | 22-22 | |
1:10 | Suns 60 second timeout | |||
0:49 | Malik Monk shooting foul (Jordan Goodwin draws the foul) | |||
0:49 | +1 | Jordan Goodwin makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 22-23 | |
0:49 | +1 | Jordan Goodwin makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-24 | |
0:32 | De'Aaron Fox misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
0:27 | Chimezie Metu defensive rebound | |||
0:11 | +2 | Jordan Goodwin makes two point driving floating jump shot | 22-26 | |
0:03 | +2 | De'Aaron Fox makes two point pullup jump shot | 24-26 | |
0:00 | Chimezie Metu misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
0:00 | Suns offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:41 | +3 | Malik Monk makes three point jump shot (De'Aaron Fox assists) | 27-26 | |
11:21 | Malik Monk personal foul (Devin Booker draws the foul) | |||
11:16 | Drew Eubanks misses two point driving hook shot | |||
11:12 | Jordan Goodwin offensive rebound | |||
11:12 | +2 | Jordan Goodwin makes two point tip layup | 27-28 | |
11:01 | +3 | Malik Monk makes three point pullup jump shot | 30-28 | |
10:47 | +2 | Chimezie Metu makes two point alley-oop dunk (Devin Booker assists) | 30-30 | |
10:46 | Kings 60 second timeout | |||
10:28 | +3 | Sasha Vezenkov makes three point jump shot (De'Aaron Fox assists) | 33-30 | |
10:12 | Sasha Vezenkov personal foul (Devin Booker draws the foul) | |||
10:03 | Jordan Goodwin turnover (bad pass) (Sasha Vezenkov steals) | |||
9:58 | Trey Lyles misses three point running jump shot | |||
9:56 | Sasha Vezenkov offensive rebound | |||
9:56 | Devin Booker personal foul (Sasha Vezenkov draws the foul) | |||
9:50 | Malik Monk misses three point jump shot | |||
9:45 | Jordan Goodwin defensive rebound | |||
9:37 | Devin Booker misses two point driving finger roll layup | |||
9:33 | Drew Eubanks offensive rebound | |||
9:33 | Drew Eubanks misses two point tip layup | |||
9:32 | De'Aaron Fox defensive rebound | |||
9:32 | +2 | Trey Lyles makes two point running layup (Malik Monk assists) | 35-30 | |
9:21 | Jordan Goodwin turnover (bad pass) (Sasha Vezenkov steals) | |||
9:10 | Chimezie Metu blocks Trey Lyles's two point driving layup | |||
9:09 | Chimezie Metu defensive rebound | |||
9:00 | +3 | Devin Booker makes three point running jump shot (Jordan Goodwin assists) | 35-33 | |
8:50 | De'Aaron Fox misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
8:47 | Chimezie Metu defensive rebound | |||
8:42 | Jordan Goodwin misses three point running jump shot | |||
8:40 | Trey Lyles defensive rebound | |||
8:24 | Drew Eubanks shooting foul (Sasha Vezenkov draws the foul) | |||
8:24 | +1 | Sasha Vezenkov makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 36-33 | |
8:24 | +1 | Sasha Vezenkov makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 37-33 | |
8:11 | +3 | Yuta Watanabe makes three point jump shot (Devin Booker assists) | 37-36 | |
7:54 | Josh Okogie blocks Sasha Vezenkov's two point driving layup | |||
7:51 | Devin Booker defensive rebound | |||
7:48 | Trey Lyles shooting foul (Chimezie Metu draws the foul) | |||
7:48 | +1 | Chimezie Metu makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 37-37 | |
7:48 | +1 | Chimezie Metu makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 37-38 | |
7:32 | Domantas Sabonis misses two point driving layup | |||
7:30 | Yuta Watanabe defensive rebound | |||
7:20 | +2 | Eric Gordon makes two point driving layup | 37-40 | |
7:05 | Keegan Murray misses three point jump shot | |||
7:02 | Drew Eubanks defensive rebound | |||
6:47 | Eric Gordon turnover (bad pass) (Harrison Barnes steals) | |||
6:43 | Eric Gordon shooting foul (Harrison Barnes draws the foul) | |||
6:43 | +1 | Harrison Barnes makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 38-40 | |
6:43 | +1 | Harrison Barnes makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 39-40 | |
6:26 | +2 | Drew Eubanks makes two point hook shot (Yuta Watanabe assists) | 39-42 | |
6:15 | Kevin Huerter misses two point jump shot | |||
6:13 | Yuta Watanabe defensive rebound | |||
6:05 | Drew Eubanks misses two point cutting layup | |||
6:03 | Domantas Sabonis defensive rebound |