Phoenix @ Sacramento preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 23, 2019 ) Sacramento 95, Phoenix 124

The Sacramento Kings aim to record their sixth victory in the past eight games when they host the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. Sacramento started the season poorly with five straight setbacks but has picked up its level of play during the solid stretch.

The Kings ended the 10-game winning streak of the Boston Celtics by claiming a 100-99 victory on Sunday. It marked the third straight game and fourth in six outings that Sacramento held the opponent to fewer than 100 points after not once holding a foe below the century mark during the first six games. Phoenix suffered a 99-85 home loss to the Celtics on Monday in a contest that marked its lowest-scoring output of the season. Star shooting guard Devin Booker scored 20 points to run his streak of 20-point outings to 10 and has failed to hit the mark once this season, when he scored 18 against the Denver Nuggets on Oct. 25.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, FS Arizona (Phoenix), NBC Sports California (Sacramento)

ABOUT THE SUNS (7-5): Point guard Ricky Rubio (back spasms) was scratched shortly before game time and the effects were evident as Phoenix had 22 assists against 19 turnovers and didn't score more than 23 points in any of the four quarters. "That's not us," Suns coach Monty Williams told reporters afterward of the offensive issues. "We've proven there's a style of play that works for us. It may not mean you're going to win the game but it gives you a shot." Jevon Carter started in Rubio's place and had three points and two assists in 24 minutes and it remains to be seen if he starts against the Kings with Williams not feeling optimistic about Rubio's chances to play.

ABOUT THE KINGS (5-7): Shooting guard Buddy Hield was a stellar 14-of-24 from the field against Boston while establishing season bests of 35 points and four steals and equaling his season high of seven 3-pointers. "Buddy obviously was spectacular," Sacramento coach Luke Walton told reporters of Hield. "We all know he can score, and he's going to have nights like this. But I thought he was so committed to the team winning. The way he was defending, just his all-around game." Backup guard Bogdan Bogdanovic recorded 12 points and 10 assists without a turnover as he continues to display point guard abilities with starter De'Aaron Fox (ankle) sidelined.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Kings went 3-1 against the Suns last season.

2. Phoenix F Dario Saric had nine points on 3-of-13 shooting against Boston after averaging 20.5 points while making 16-of-23 shots over the previous two games.

3. Sacramento PF Nemanja Bjelica had 12 points and a season-high 14 rebounds against the Celtics for his second double-double in the past three games.

PREDICTION: Kings 112, Suns 107