SACRAMENTO, Calif. — After winning their first two games of the season for the first time since 2003-04, the Sacramento Kings were reminded that they can’t win them all.
Mikal Bridges scored 22 points, Cameron Johnson scored 21 and Devin Booker added 20, leading the Phoenix Suns to a 116-100 victory over the Kings on Sunday at Golden 1 Center. Deandre Ayton posted 11 points and 15 rebounds for the Suns (2-1), who avenged Saturday’s loss in Sacramento. Chris Paul had eight points and 12 assists.
Buddy Hield had 17 points for the Kings (2-1). Rookie first-round draft pick Tyrese Haliburton had a career-high 15 points and six assists. Marvin Bagley III finished with 11 points and eight rebounds, but he was held to two points and two rebounds in the second half after getting into foul trouble.
The Suns led 56-53 at the break, but the Kings staged an 11-2 run to start the second half. The Kings took a 64-58 lead on a 3-pointer by Hield and still led by three with five minutes remaining in the third period, but then they came unraveled. De’Aaron Fox and Bagley both went to the bench after picking up their fourth fouls. Fox checked back in for the final offensive possession and immediately picked up his fifth foul.
Phoenix carried a 90-78 lead into the fourth quarter after closing the third with a 13-2 run. The Suns went up 94-79 early in the fourth and led by as many as 23 in the final minutes.
