In the absence of the most clutch player at the start of the season, Kevin Durant, another specialist of the genre shone in the final minutes of this meeting: DeMar DeRozan. Manhandled in the fourth quarter on the Suns floor, the Kings can thank him for the quantity of decisive baskets scored.
To win in Arizona, and end their opponents' streak of seven straight victories, the Californians had to go through overtime. On a tap from Keegan Murray four seconds from the end of regulation time (110-111), after a rare miss from DeRozan, the visitors perhaps did not imagine having to go through this extra period.
Booker misses the mark
Only this same Murray was penalized for a foul on Devin Booker before the final throw-in. Result: a free throw to equalize for Booker, and possession for the Suns. But Booker couldn't convert on the corner 3-pointer at the buzzer. Once overtime started, DeRozan resumed his work at mid-distance and attacking the circle with… eight points in a row.
Sacramento thus took an option but the Suns, who finished the meeting with five shooters to insist behind the arc (57 attempts!), responded thanks to a more active Bradley Beal in the final. His four-point action gave the locals hope, but De'Aaron Fox, who also knows about clutchitude, took over opposite to push Phoenix.
WHAT TO REMEMBER
– Phoenix's regrets. Accustomed to winning close encounters so far, Mike Budenholzer's men were unable to finish last night. Trailing by seven points at the break (53-60), they reacted perfectly in the third quarter by limiting Sacramento to 19 points. Leading at the start of the last quarter (82-79), the locals relied on the pair Tyus Jones – Devin Booker to take an 11-point lead 8 minutes from the end (92-81) . They were still two possessions ahead with three minutes to go, but it wasn't enough.
– DeMar DeRozan saved the Kings. While his team was off to a very poor start in the final, the guard took matters into his own hands and unscrupulously continued the sessions in isolation at the head of the racket (even if it meant that Domantas Sabonis was left behind, not a shot after the third… ). Royce O'Neale's size did not hinder him so much from shining in his characteristic mid-range game. Discreet over the first three quarters, the veteran scored 16 points in the fourth before scoring his team's first eight points in overtime, on the basis of two actions at 2+1. Impressive.
– The Suns deprived of Jusuf Nurkic. He was uncertain before the meeting. The Suns pivot finally started as a starter before having to throw in the towel due to discomfort in his left ankle. He did not return to the game after the break. The interior was one of the team's healthy men with 17 points and 14 rebounds over the previous three games.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
