Mark Williams recorded 21 points and a season-high 17 rebounds, Collin Gillispie also scored 21 points and the visiting Phoenix Suns defeated the Sacramento Kings 112-100 on Wednesday in an NBA Cup West Group A contest.
Phoenix never trailed en route to its fourth win in five games and its second in two meetings with the Kings this season. Sacramento lost for the ninth time in 11 games.
The Suns and Thunder, both 3-0 in NBA Cup action, will meet on Friday at Oklahoma City with winner capturing the group. The Kings, 0-3 in NBA Cup play, were eliminated from contention.
Sacramento was led by Keegan Murray and Russell Westbrook, who each scored 19 points.
Phoenix played without Grayson Allen (quad) and Ryan Dunn (wrist). Sacramento was still without standout Domantas Sabonis (knee) and Dennis Schroder (hip).
Sacramento threw the ball away on an inbounds pass after the Suns sank the first basket of the game — the first of 11 first-half turnovers by the Kings — leading to a 3-pointer by Dillon Brooks, and the Suns were off and running. Phoenix scored the game’s first seven points.
Phoenix made six 3-pointers in the first quarter, including two each by Gillespie and Devin Booker, and led by 41-16 after the period. It was a season-high output in the first quarter by Phoenix, and the home crowd voiced its unhappiness.
Things turned slightly better for Sacramento in the second. Zach LaVine had an explosive dunk with 5:35 left in the half that had the crowd buzzing, and a trey by Malik Monk with 1:44 left drew the Kings within 17. However, Booker and Brooks made three of four free throws and Jordan Goodwin scored on a put-back to give Phoenix a 67-45 lead at halftime.
Sacramento twice cut the Suns’ lead to eight in the second half, but each time Phoenix responded with a spurt. In the third quarter, a 3-pointer by Monk made it 76-68, but the Suns scored seven of the next 10 points, including a pair of baskets by Williams.
With eight minutes left in the game, two free throws by DeMar DeRozan made it 94-86, but the Suns answered with a 7-0 run capped by a trey from Jamaree Bouyea.
