Phoenix Suns center Mason Plumlee (22) in action during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns at American Airlines Center. The Phoenix Suns have yet to wave the white flag on their highly disappointing season.
But sinking fast and sitting six games below .500 with just 16 games remaining, the Suns could be moving closer to the inevitable if they should lose at home to the Sacramento Kings on Friday night.
Phoenix has dropped 14 of its last 19 games as it enters a highly pivotal contest with the Kings, who reside in ninth place in the Western Conference.
Sacramento is one of the two teams the Suns need to fall on hard times. The Suns are 2 1/2 behind the Dallas Mavericks for the final play-in spot in the West and stand 3 1/2 games behind Sacramento after the Kings were routed 130-104 by the host Golden State Warriors on Thursday night.
Phoenix is entering a stretch in which six of seven games are at home. The Suns completed a 1-3 road trip with a 111-104 loss to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.
“This road trip took a little bit out of us, but I think these guys, couple of nights in their own bed, get back in our gym, we’ll be ready to go,” Suns coach Mike Budenholzer said.
Phoenix’s lone victory during the trip was over the Mavericks. Now they have their sights on the other team in close proximity.
Post player Mason Plumlee feels like the team has been clicking even if the results continue to drag down the team’s record. He felt the squad fared well in losses at the Memphis Grizzlies and Rockets.
“I feel like really the last three, four games we have a good rhythm with a good group,” Plumlee said. “We are playing well. I know it didn’t result in a win (Monday) in Memphis, but we’ve had moments with our group that look really good, so I’m excited for this last stretch.”
Bradley Beal scored 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting against the Rockets. Devin Booker and Kevin Durant had 19 points apiece.
Sacramento has lost three straight games and four of its last five.
The last two games were ugly as the Kings were routed 133-104 by the visiting New York Knicks on Monday prior to the beatdown against the Warriors.
The slide has come at a time when star center Domantas Sabonis has been sidelined with a left hamstring injury. He has missed six straight games and sat against the Warriors despite returning to practice on Wednesday.
The Kings have some wiggle room right now with Phoenix so far behind but a loss to the Suns would certainly tighten things up.
And the large margin of defeat on the front end of a road back-to-back doesn’t leave a promising feeling.
“We’re going to figure it out, we’re not going to sit here and have excuses,” Sacramento interim coach Doug Christie said after the loss to Golden State. “This is a game in my opinion that we should’ve won.”
DeMar DeRozan scored 23 points on 8-of-13 shooting and had seven assists against Golden State. Zach LaVine was the only other starter in double digits with 14 points.
Malik Monk (seven points on 3-of-13 shooting) and Keegan Murray (six on 2-of-10) both had poor outings for the Kings.
Keon Ellis scored 18 points off the bench for Sacramento.
Grayson Allen (foot) is doubtful for the Suns and Nick Richards (ankle) is questionable.
–Field Level Media
