Zach LaVine #8 of the Sacramento Kings looks on during the game against the Phoenix Suns on November 26, 2025 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California.(Mandatory Photo Credit: Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO — Riding the most optimism the Kings have had all season, Sacramento welcomed the Phoenix Suns to Golden 1 Center on Wednesday night. The Kings failed to keep the winning streak going as they fell to the Suns 112-100.

In the first quarter, the Kings played one of the worst quarters of the season. The Suns blew the Kings off the court and outscored them 41-16, with Devin Booker scoring 12 points in the quarter. The Kings didn’t take care of the ball as they turned it over seven times, leading to 12 Suns points and setting the tone early. Kings fans booed the team off the court as the quarter came to a close.

In the second quarter, the Kings settled in to stop the bleeding, but they didn’t make any dent in the Suns’ lead heading into halftime. The Kings were outscored 29-26 in the second quarter as Russell Westbrook led the team with seven points in the period. The Kings trailed the Suns 67-45 as the game went to halftime. The Kings were led in scoring in the first half by Russell Westbrook, who scored 12 points, while Devin Booker led all scorers with 15 first-half points. The Kings continued to get punished by turnovers as they gave the Suns 11 free possessions in the first half, leading to 19 Phoenix points. Phoenix led by as many as 25 points in the first half as the Kings couldn’t find a way to contain the Suns.

In the third quarter, the Kings finally went on a run to get themselves back into the game. The Kings outscored the Suns 28-16. The Kings, led by Malik Monk, Keegan Murray, and Keon Ellis, got within 10 points as the third quarter ended 83-73 in favor of the Suns. The defense played by the aforementioned, along with 16 combined points from Murray and Monk, gave the Kings a fighting chance in the final 12 minutes.

In the fourth quarter, the Kings couldn’t keep their third-quarter efforts going as they were outscored 29-27 and lost to the Suns 112-100. The Kings’ efforts in the first quarter proved too much to overcome, finishing the game with 19 turnovers that led to 34 Suns points. Zach LaVine and Russell Westbrook combined for 11 turnovers as Zach’s struggles continued. LaVine finished the game 1-6 from three as he continues to go through one of his worst shooting slumps since being acquired by the Kings last season.

After the game, Doug Christie was saddened by the Kings’ efforts after such a gritty performance on Monday against the Timberwolves.

“About as disappointing as it gets,” Doug said following the game. “I probably should have called a timeout within the first six seconds with the very first turnover—attention to detail, matching physicality—but we all got to be better, me included.”

With the loss, the Kings fell to 5-14 and are now 3-6 at home.

Up Next: The Kings will travel to Utah to take on the Jazz on Friday at 6:30 p.m. PST inside Delta Center.