Without Devin Booker, Suns close 2016-17 with loss to Kings
Apr 11, 2017, 10:28 PM
Phoenix Suns guard Tyler Ulis, right, drives against Sacramento Kings guard Ty Lawson during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 11, 2017, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Buddy Hield scored a career-high 30 points and Ty Lawson had his first career triple-double, getting 22 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds as the Sacramento Kings beat the Phoenix Suns 129-104 on Tuesday night.
The Kings never trailed, scoring the game’s first nine points, leading by 19 at halftime and keeping a double-digit lead the entire second half.
Ben McLemore, Willie Cauley-Stein and Georgios Papagiannis all had 13 points for the Kings. Skal Labissiere and Anthony Tolliver had 12 points apiece. The Kings snapped a two-game losing streak, beating the Suns for the third time in four games this season.
Tyler Ulis had 27 points and Marquese Chriss scored 22 for Phoenix. T.J. Warren had 14 points and Alan Williams also had 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Leading scorer Devin Booker was given the night off as the Suns finished 24-58.
The Suns closed the season with 14 losses in 16 games and finished with the second-worst record in the NBA. They had a second consecutive 50-plus loss season, missing the playoffs for the seventh straight time.
Lawson grabbed his 10th rebound to secure the triple-double midway through the fourth quarter, igniting a fast break. He was hugged by teammates moments later after the Suns called a timeout following 11 unanswered points by the Kings.
However, it’s been another disappointing season for the Kings, who have 11 straight losing seasons with zero playoff appearances.
Following the trade of DeMarcus Cousins at the All-Star break, the Kings took a new direction and have focused on the development of younger players, including rookies Hield, Papagiannis and Labissiere, and second-year player Cauley-Stein.
The Kings closed the first half with a 16-4 run and led 58-39. Phoenix shot just under 30 percent in the opening half and missed 14 of 17 3-pointers.
TIP-INS
Suns: Chriss grew up in Sacramento and was drafted by the Kings last June, but his rights were traded that same day to the Suns. … Phoenix shot 37 percent.
Kings: Papagiannis got in a shoving match late in the first quarter with Dragan Bender, and Chriss also intervened. All three players received technicals. .. The Kings are 8-16 since the Cousins trade.
