Kevin Durant scored 28 points, and Jusuf Nurkic’s late free throw helped the Phoenix Suns stage a comeback to defeat the Sacramento Kings 108-107 on Friday night.
The game was tied at 107 when Nurkic secured a crucial rebound off a missed shot by Grayson Allen. After being fouled by Domantas Sabonis, Nurkic made one of his free throws to give the Suns the lead with just 8.1 seconds remaining.
Bradley Beal then made a crucial defensive play by stripping the ball from De’Aaron Fox, preventing the Kings from attempting a potential game-winning shot. Fox believed he was fouled by Beal on the play, which was disputed by Kings coach Mike Brown.
Suns coach Frank Vogel praised his team’s defensive effort and commended Beal for his performance. Devin Booker contributed 21 points, while Beal added 20. Sabonis led the Kings with 25 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists.
Both teams are playoff-bound, but the game had significant implications for seeding, with the Suns currently seventh and the Kings eighth in the Western Conference.
The Suns have won nine of their last 13 games and are closely chasing the sixth seed. Meanwhile, the Kings have struggled recently, losing five of their last six games, and are at risk of slipping to a lower seed, which would require them to win two play-in games to advance to the playoffs.
Durant emphasized the importance of effort and determination in playoff games, highlighting the Suns’ hustle and defensive plays that secured the victory.
