Key to Victory: How Suns Can Exploit Kings

The Suns need to do this singular thing to gain an upper-hand against a strong opponent.

The Phoenix Suns face one of their biggest tests since the beginning of 2024, facing a Sacramento Kings squad that currently sits at 23-16. 

While the Kings are more often than not bringing a quality product to the table - they get blown out quite frequently. Six of the Kings' last eight defeats have been by double figures, an alarming figure for the playoff hopefuls. 

It should also give the Suns hope they could potentially cruise to victory with the right gameplan and intensity.

While one can sit and point at numerous things Phoenix needs to do to walk out of Footprint Center with a win - rebounding, limiting turnovers and among other variables - one key to victory stands out:

The Suns must run the line and limit good looks from behind the arc. 

Sacramento ranks third in the league in three-point attempts per game and are one of three teams to average over 40 attempts per night.

While their overall efficiency (36.9%) ranks just 14th in the NBA, the Kings have seven players that get consistent volume who shoot over 37% from deep. 

Notably, Kevin Huerter is a dangerous shooter. He shoots just 34.5% on the season but is coming off a game where he hit 6-of-9 attempts and is known to be a specialist from behind the arc. 

The other positive development of Phoenix overplaying the three-ball is Sacramento's poor shooting from the free throw line, as the Kings attempt the 11th-fewest free throws per game and rank dead last in FT% - knocking down a rough 73.3% as a team. 

Phoenix shouldn't fear the Kings pressuring the rim as much as a squad such as the Oklahoma City Thunder, and though the Suns obviously shouldn't give De'Aaron Fox layup lines - the three-ball is clearly what Sacramento lives and dies by.

In an NBA where three-point variance is very real, the Kings are possibly the most glaring example of a team that has a strong chance of getting ran out of the gym if the deep ball isn't falling. 

Phoenix must lean into disciplined rotations, strong communication, and an emphasis on perimeter defense if they want to continue climbing the standings both tonight and moving forward.