Jackson scores 28, Suns escape with win over Kings to snap losing streak

PHOENIX — With Devin Booker and T.J. Warren continuing to miss time due to injury, the Phoenix Suns have had to rely on Josh Jackson as the team’s primary offensive option.

They didn’t have to ask Jackson twice to take on the extra responsibility.

The rookie out of Kansas has off the charts confidence, as he will never turn down a three-pointer and loves to set up his step-back jumper, all while fearlessly attacking the rim. The consistent use of his jumper is significant because Jackson’s shot is his defining weakness at this point in his career.

The relentless nature of his scoring, though, means he will get buckets regardless of how his jumper is falling. That was the case on Tuesday night in the Suns’ 97-94 win over the Sacramento Kings to snap a franchise-record 15-game losing streak.

Jackson scored 28 points on 23 shots to go along with six rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block.

Some of Jackson’s drives looked good, but on others, he would turn it over or get an offensive foul. Some of his jumpers looked pretty, but on others, they weren’t very close.

Whatever the case, he kept coming and coming and coming. It’s the exact trait that is a large reason why the Suns were thrilled he was available to be selected at No. 4 overall in last year’s draft.

Despite a playstyle that some might consider reckless, Jackson still maintained a solid field goal percentage of 43.4 percent (10-of-23) and he’s aware that the right pace of play is an important balance.

“I know for us to be successful I gotta score a little bit here and there, but the thing I’ve been trying to work on is picking and choosing my shots,” Jackson said after the game.

He’s been playing that way all year but has found that balance in the past two months. Since the start of February, Jackson is shooting 45.0 percent and averaging 18.2 points a game. While his three-point percentage is only 26.9 percent over that stretch, the Suns are happy to see the progress he’s shown, especially in a much bigger role on the team.

“I think he’s come a long way as far as what he can do,” interim head coach Jay Triano said.

The team was without Booker (right hand sprain), Warren (left knee inflammation) and starting point guard Elfrid Payton (left knee tendinopathy).

“You kinda welcome the fact that he’s ready to take it,” Triano said of Jackson’s confidence.

Even in a game the Suns mostly controlled, a stretch at the end of the fourth quarter nearly cost them the game and they would need some luck to get that much-needed win.

Phoenix was up six with 19 seconds left when De’Aaron Fox hit a pull-up 3-pointer to keep the Kings in it. After calling a timeout, the Suns would nearly commit a five-second violation on the inbounds pass and call another timeout.

Dragan Bender would then be able to throw the ball in on the next try, but the pass was to Danuel House Jr. stuck and trapped in the corner. In an attempt to pass it to Alex Len, House’s effort was deflected back off him as he was out of bounds and it was Sacramento ball with seven seconds left down three.

After a timeout, former Suns first-round pick Bogdan Bogdanovic had a wide-open three-pointer straight off the inbounds pass and missed. Buddy Hield came up with the rebound and immediately found a wide-open Justin Jackson at the top of the key for another chance.

The Kings just got the two best looks to tie the game in human history pic.twitter.com/cVv7quVVar

— Cole Zwicker (@colezwicker) April 4, 2018

Both young players for the Kings are known for their three-point shooting, but both wouldn’t convert the potential game-tying bucket and the Suns survived for a win.

“(The) basketball gods looked out for us today,” Len said of the sequence.

While Jackson was terrific, the Suns had other key contributions in the Suns’ first home victory since Jan. 31.

Tyler Ulis had 13 points and nine assists, Alex Len had a double-double of 17 points and 15 rebounds and Danuel House Jr. had a steady 14 points, six rebounds and five assists.

The second unit led by Len, House and Shaquille Harrison was the difference. House played the entire fourth quarter while Len never checked out after coming into the game with 7:39 left in the third quarter.

The absence of Troy Daniels had a role in House’s increased playing time of 28 minutes. Daniels sprained his right ankle midway through the second quarter and would not return after starting the game.

House was a team-high plus-12 and Len followed with a plus-nine.

Sacramento was led by Bogdanovic, who scored a team-high 22. Rookie Justin Jackson added 19.

UP NEXT

The Suns will look to make it two wins in a row at home on Friday against the New Orleans Pelicans. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. with pregame coverage beginning 30 minutes prior on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.

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