Suns Strokes: Suns suffer fifth straight loss at the hands of the Kings

Mar 29, 2013, 5:26 AM

Sure, you could read the box score and know who won, but we all know that won’t tell you everything that happened in a basketball game. So, we will give you Suns Strokes, providing you with the analysis, quotes and notes from the Suns’ 117-103 loss to Kings on March 28.

The Good:

Wesley Johnson has three straight games in which he has scored in double figures, one shy of his career record of four, a mark he set back in 2011.

Luis Scola recorded his second straight 20-plus point effort, which was his 10th of the season. He is tied with Michael Beasley for second place among the Suns in terms of 20-point games (Goran Dragic leads the team with 12).

The Bad:

The Suns are now just 2-10 in the time since starting center Marcin Gortat went down with a Lisfranc sprain in his right foot.

The Ugly:

This was a basketball game between two bad teams, so naturally it could be expected to be a bad game. However, this game was just plain ugly from start to finish. Play was sloppy throughout and it was clear that DeMarcus Cousins was the best player on the floor, and I don’t remember the last time anyone has been able to say that. Granted, the Suns were without Dragic and Gortat, but this looked more like a pick-up game at the local YMCA than an NBA basketball game.

There was a span in the game, starting with 3:48 left in the first quarter and ending early in the second, in which Cousins had 17 straight points for the Kings.

He Said It:

“[Marshall] just went on the fritz for a minute,” said interim head coach Lindsey Hunter when asked about the Kings’ 14-0 run in the first quarter. “I think he looked just like a rookie in that stretch of the game.”

Noted:

• The Suns are now just 10-22 under Hunter since he took over on January 20th.

• The Suns dropped their first home game to the Kings since February 13th, 2011.

Up Next:

The Suns (23-49) welcome the Indiana Pacers (46-27) into US Airways Center on Saturday, March 30 at 7 p.m.

Sacramento Kings' Tyreke Evans (13) scores past Phoenix Suns' Markieff Morrs (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Thursday, March 28, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) Sacramento Kings' DeMarcus Cousins (15) falls as Phoenix Suns' P.J. Tucker defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Thursday, March 28, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) Sacramento Kings' DeMarcus Cousins (15) shoots over Phoenix Suns' P.J. Tucker (17) during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Thursday, March 28, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) Sacramento Kings' Isaiah Thomas (22) drives past Phoenix Suns' Kendall Marshall (12) during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Thursday, March 28, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) Sacramento Kings' Cole Aldrich (45) fouls Phoenix Suns' Marcus Morris during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Thursday, March 28, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) Sacramento Kings' Marcus Thornton, center, knocks the ball away from Phoenix Suns' Diante Garrett, right, as Suns' Jared Dudley (3) looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Thursday, March 28, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) Sacramento Kings' Jason Thompson, top, shoots over Phoenix Suns' Michael Beasley, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Thursday, March 28, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) Sacramento Kings' DeMarcus Cousins (15) drives around Phoenix Suns' Hamed Haddadi, right, of Iran, during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Thursday, March 28, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) Phoenix Suns Diante Garrett (10) drives against Sacramento Kings' Toney Douglas during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Thursday, March 28, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) Phoenix Suns' P.J. Tucker (17) steals the ball from Sacramento Kings' Jason Thompson during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, March 28, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) Sacramento Kings' Tyreke Evans passes as Phoenix Suns' Markieff Morris, left, defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, March 28, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) Phoenix Suns' Luis Scola, of Argentina, is fouled by Sacramento Kings' John Thompson during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, March 28, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) Phoenix Suns' Markieff Morris, right, drives past Sacramento Kings' John Thompson during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, March 28, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

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