Kings at Suns

[FArting]

Playing at home instead of on the road has made all the difference for the Phoenix Suns over the past two months. The Sacramento Kings have seen that first-hand.
Leading up to a game in which their playoff hopes could hang in the balance, the Suns go for a season-best seventh consecutive home win Friday night as they try to avenge a recent loss to the lowly Kings.

Phoenix (41-34) is four games behind Dallas for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Regardless of how the Suns fare in this game, if the Mavericks win at Memphis on Friday they would wrap up a postseason berth by beating Phoenix on Sunday.That would knock the Suns out of playoff contention because they would be five games behind Dallas with each team having five games remaining, and the Mavs would own the tiebreaker for having won the season series.

"We're not eliminated yet," Suns guard Jason Richardson said. "We're going to continue to play and we still believe we have a chance."The Suns clearly have a better chance for a victory at US Airways Center, where they've won a season-high six in a row -- the last three against teams ahead of them in the West standings.Phoenix is 16-3 at home since the start of February compared to 3-11 on the road. That impressive stretch at US Airways Center began with the most lopsided home win in franchise history and it came against the Kings, 129-81 on Feb. 2.

That was the Suns' sixth straight home win in the series and sixth in a row overall versus the Kings (16-58), but that streak ended Sunday as Phoenix lost 126-118 in Sacramento. The defeat was particularly devastating for the Suns because it capped an 0-3 road trip and came against the team with the NBA's worst record."That one is definitely going to mess with Phoenix's mentality," Kings guard Kevin Martin said after that win. "It's definitely going to be interesting how they approach us in the next game (on Friday)."

Martin is coming off a career-high 50-point performance Wednesday night, but he missed a potential go-ahead jumper with 6 seconds left in overtime and Beno Udrih missed at the buzzer as Sacramento lost 143-141 to Golden State.Martin has been limited to a combined 30 points and 8-of-27 from the field in two games against Phoenix this season despite the Suns being among the league's worst teams defensively, surrendering 107.2 points per game.Sacramento gives up an average of 109.1 to rank second-to-last in the league, having allowed more than 110 in five consecutive games.The Suns have scored an average of 111.7 at home this season while shooting 52.1 percent, tops in the league. They even had a big night on offense against one of the NBA's best defensive teams Wednesday, shooting 54.3 percent in a 114-109 victory over Houston."We had a great performance from a lot of guys," said Steve Nash, who had 25 points and 17 assists. "We wanted it, we worked hard for it and we deserved it tonight -- a lot more spirit about us than Sunday in Sacramento."

Nash had 31 points and 14 assists in that loss while seven Kings scored in double figures.That's one of only two wins in the last 11 games overall for Sacramento, which is a conference-worst 5-32 on the road.

http://espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=290403021

 

[Andrew]

I think we blow them out

 

[Brianellsworth]

I think we blow them out

You can always count on Andrew for a large dose of optimism. thanks Andrew

 

[jpdavis82]

Mavs tied at halftime with the Grizzlies. Sure would be nice if the Grizzlies won, but the SUNS MUST win!!!

GO SUNS

 

[Proteus]

I'll be dissapointed if we don't beat the Kings by at least 15.

 

[Andrew]

great start, passes are crisp and the ball movement seems great so far....

 

[Andrew]

Nash had an early circus shot and welcome back LB, his first shot was a 3 and nothing but net.

 

[Ninjafish]

Could there actually be a god? I'm watching the Mavs/Grizzlies game right now. It's a little bit more interesting than Suns/Kings.

 

[Andrew]

Lopez with the hard foul on Garcia, good to see the toughness.

 

[Hat]

Great to see Barbs back. I expect an extra 20+ pts on our score now.

Good news Dallas lost to Memphis. There is still a chance...

 

[Ninjafish]

Mavs choked hardcore at the end.

There's a real good chance as long as the Suns could beat the Mavs on Sunday. Then the Suns would be two games back with the Mavs still having games against Rockets, Hornets, Hornets, and Jazz to play.

 

[Andrew]

Mavs lost so we need to win this to pull closer.

Nash already has 14 points.

 

[Andrew]

Wait, if we beat Dallas, isn't that a 2 game swing? Since we win and they lose, wouldn't we only be back one game then?

 

[jpdavis82]

Wait, if we beat Dallas, isn't that a 2 game swing? Since we win and they lose, wouldn't we only be back one game then?

We'd be back 2 games but its almost like picking up 2 because we get the tiebreaker with conf. record, assuming we win out or go 7-1 and end up tied with them.

 

[Andrew]

We need to stop Mccants

 

[Andrew]

We'd be back 2 games but its almost like picking up 2 because we get the tiebreaker with conf. record, assuming we win out or go 7-1 and end up tied with them.

makes sense

 

[jpdavis82]

I watched the Grizzlies game tonight and we still have to play them and so that will be a tough one we better come ready. The Grizzlies had the lead or were within 2-4 the whole game. Mayo and Conley were lights out tonight.

But I believe we can go 8-0!!

 

[Andrew]

I don't like this, the Kings are hanging around, its only a 12 point game.

 

[Andrew]

And just like that, its a 6 point game with Shaq and Grant with 3 fouls each.

 

[Proteus]

Horrible shooting and defense from the Suns in the 2nd quarter.

 

[Proteus]

Wow...Lopez is actually able to dunk.

 

[Andrew]

What the hell? This team amazes me how they let one of the worst teams in the league hang around when you are fighting for your playoff lives, yay only up by 3.

These guys better get it going, can't get 2 backs back if you can't get to 3 first.

 

[Proteus]

Suns up 68-65 after the 2nd quarter. The Kings are shooting 49% from the field and 6/9 from the 3 when they normally shoot 45% from the field and 37% from the 3. The Suns have turned the ball over 9 times already, Nash has 3. Come on guys. Please don't lose to the worst team in the Nba for a 2nd time.

 

[Andrew]

If the Kings lead at all during this half, I swear...

 

[Andrew]

Yay, lead back up by 11.... Jason with bac to back 3s from the same spot, even the row of nuns are enjoying it.