The Sacramento Kings were dangerously close to defeating the Phoenix Suns at home Tuesday night. The Kings lead 109-87 at 8:10. The Suns won 119-117 after they allowed a 32-8 run. The Kings' collapse was shocking, and the 22-18 Suns, whose season hasn't gone well, won big.
A double-digit loss at home to a Western Conference foe would have worsened. Instead, they celebrate one of the NBA season's biggest triumphs.
The Kings led from the start until the late collapse. They led 39-27 in the first quarter and 68-51 at halftime. A De'Aaron Fox 3-pointer made it 109-87 with 8:22 left in the fourth quarter. The wheels fell off.
A traffic layup by Phoenix's Josh Okogie ignited the rally at 8:09. The Kings stopped a 7-0 Suns run with a Keegan Murray 3-pointer to take their lead back to 112-94 with 6:14 left.
The comeback's heart started then. Phoenix went on a 15-1 run highlighted by a Kevin Durant transition 3-pointer to pull within 113-109 with 2:33 left. It was on from there. The Suns knotted it at 115-115 with 43.7 seconds left on an Eric Gordon 3-pointer.
Two Durant free throws gave them a 117-115 advantage. Fox knotted the game with 19 seconds left on a floater. Fox fouled Durant with 1.1 seconds left, forcing him to shoot the game-winning free throws.
Durant calmly plunged both to win 119-117. He scored 27, rebounded 5, and assisted 4. Grayson Allen led the Suns with 29 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds. While shooting 5-of-14, Devin Booker scored 16 points and had 11 assists.
Suns three-pointers were 17 of 37 (45.9%), including seven in the fourth quarter. Fox led Sacramento with 33 points and six assists, a performance that will disappoint him. Loss lowered Kings to 23-17. This game might affect either team's season. Watch the Suns and Kings' future responses.