Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan drives on the Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn in first half action at Footprint Arena in Phoenix on Sun Nov 10, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Sacramento Kings beat the Phoenix Sun’s in an epic battle that went into overtime with the Kings winning 127-118 at Footprint Arena in downtown Phoenix. The outstanding player in this game went to the entire starting roster with DeMar DeRozan who led with 34 points.

Sunday evening, the Sacramento Kings (6-4) traveled to the Valley of the Sun to take on the Phoenix Suns (8-2) at Footprint Center. After a slow start, the Kings have seemed to have found their rhythm but they will be sorely tested by the Phoenix Suns.

Devon Booker and the Suns are having a robust season and will be looking to keep things rolling. The Kings lost Friday night to the Los Angeles Clippers 107-98 while the Sun come into this game having won their past three games by the narrowest of margins, the most recent a one-point victory over the Dallas Mavericks 114-113.

The only team that has beaten the Sun this season has been the Los Angeles Lakers back on October 25th. That score was a 123-116 loss to Los Angeles, the only loss for Phoenix so far this season.

The Sun will be looking to continue their winning ways without superstar Kevin Durant on the court. He is sidelined for at least two weeks with a calf strain. He suffered the injury in their 114-113 win over the Dallas Mavericks.

After the first 12 minutes of play the Kings had a 36-31 lead. The Kings were protecting the ball well and shooting 58% from the field. Sacramento continued to hold down the fort in the second quarter thanks to the sharp shooting of Kevin Huerter who had 14 points followed by Domantas Sabonis with 12 points and seven rebounds.

The Kings went on a 18-5 run taking a 60-53 lead at halftime. DeMar DeRozan got going along with Keegan Murray and De’Aaron Fox who started to heat up as the half came to an end. The second half promised to be a closely contested game.

A blow came in the early part of the second quarter when Malik Monk was ruled out for the rest of the game due to a right ankle sprain. This was terrible news for the Kings who have won five of their last seven games.

The loss put Sacramento’s second unit into a tough spot going into the second half of play. He will no doubt be evaluated on Monday. He had been averaging 13.6 points. The Kings will need the entire bench to step up in his absence. They desperately need their sixth man.

After leading for much of the game, Sacramento gave up the lead to the Suns 77-74 with under four minutes left in the third quarter. The Kings had outscored the Sun in the second quarter by a basket 24-22 but were getting beaten pretty soundly in the third 24-17 with three minutes left in the quarter.

With under three minutes left on the clock this game was knotted at 77. With under a minute the game was again tied at 79. As the third quarter came to an end the Suns held a slim lead over the Kings 82-79 Sabonis already had a double double with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

It all came down to the fourth quarter in this hotly contested game. The Sun began to distance themselves taking a seven-point lead to start the quarter and continued to extend their lead as the quarter wore on.

Sacramento battled back trailing by the score of 94-95 with 5:36 left on the clock. It was a four-point game with under four minutes left on the clock and the Suns leading 104-100. With under two minutes it was a one-point 107-106 and this game could not have been any closer. Regulation time would end in a tie 111 apiece.

The Sun’s took a two point lead to start the quarter but that was where it would all end. Sacramento’s DeRozan not only tied up the game but hit a free throw followed by a couple of buckets and another free throw. De’Aaron Fox made two shots with under two minutes in the overtime to finish off the Sun’s winning the game 127-118.

This was an epic battle between the two teams but it was the Kings that capped it off in the overtime after tying up the game to end the fourth quarter. Both Keegan Murray and Fox had a slow first half but picked it up in the fourth quarter.

Murray finished with 14 points and 14 rebounds and Fox got hot as well with 21 points and 11 rebounds . DeRozan had the team high with 34 points. Huerter was 5 of 9 from downtown finishing with 17 points.

Sabonis scored 20 points and had 12 rebounds. This was a great win for the team but came at a cost. Malik Monk left the game in the early part of the second quarter with a right ankle sprain, a huge loss for the team.

Sacramento has now won six of their last eight games. Monday the Kings will travel to San Antonio for a date with the Spurs. Sacramento is 4-2 on the road. Tipoff for this game is scheduled for 5:00 PM. Hopefully we will know more on the condition and status of Malik Monks injury.