The Phoenix Suns’ first game of 2026 started slowly, but the final result was a success. The Suns started the game without their typical relentless energy, which is easy to do against a shorthanded team that has struggled of late.
The team may have coasted early, but Devin Booker didn’t. He poured in 27 points in the first half, after dropping 20 in the opening period. Phoenix secured its 20th win of the season by going on a pair of dooming runs that rattled the slumping Kings.
The Suns won 129-102,
led by 33 points from Devin Booker in 28 minutes. They forced 21 turnovers in the victory to improve to 11-5 at home.
Key Performers
- Devin Booker — 33 points, 5 assists, 2 rebounds, 13-21 FG, 28 minutes
- Dillon Brooks — 18 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 8-14 FG, 25 minutes
- Mark Williams — 15 points, 9 rebounds, 1 block, 1 steal, 3-4 FG, 22 minutes
- Collin Gillespie — 15 points, 4 assists, 3 steals, 2 rebounds, 6-14 FG, 26 minutes
- Oso Ighodaro — 15 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 steals, 5-7 FG, 20 minutes
Game Flow
First Half
A Dillon Brooks triple pushed the Suns out to a quick 5-2 lead. Devin Booker scored or assisted on every one of the Suns’ first 9 points of the opening quarter, with 4 points and 2 assists in the opening minutes.
Dillon Brooks got another technical foul, this time just 3 minutes and 8 seconds into the game.
The teams traded buckets early on, with the Suns’ energy level not where it needed to be against the depleted Kings. Jordan Ott called a timeout at the 6:17 mark with Phoenix leading 15-14.
Sacramento continued to look far too comfortable, jumping ahead to a 26-22 lead with 2:40 remaining in the quarter. Devin Booker (13), Dillon Brooks (6), and Mark Williams (6) had all 25 of the Suns’ points as they trailed 26-25.
Devin Booker had that look in his eye, taking over and pouring in 20 points in the opening quarter. He continued to add to that total by scoring 7 straight points to close the quarter. Phoenix led 32-29 after one.
The Kings scored 6 straight points to open the quarter, but that woke the Suns up. The laggy energy was finally snapped by the bench mob.
Phoenix went on an 8-0 run to jump back in front, 45-40, after an Oso poster, and then Collin Gillespie pull-up three. A pair of nice Oso slams shifted the momentum back in Phoenix’s favor in the second quarter.
Devin Booker finished the opening half with 27 points as the Suns took a 62-56 lead into the break.
Second Half
Phoenix pushed the pace early and often in the third quarter, jumping out to a 22-12 advantage in the quarter to push their lead to 16.
It was a lot more of Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, and Mark Williams, as we saw in the opening quarter, only this time their defense was dialed in.
Dillon Brooks put in a transition bucket off a Devin Booker swipe and assist to push the lead to 18, which triggered a timeout from Doug Christie.
The third quarter finished with the Kings fighting back a bit, cutting the lead to 14 heading into the final quarter of action. Phoenix led 97-83 after three.
The continued steady play from Jamaree Bouyea and Jordan Goodwin helped pace the bench play, along with a promising game from Oso Ighdaro.
Rasheer Fleming and Khaman Maluach were sent in for the final 5:30 of the ballgame. The Suns’ second (and third) unit really took it up a notch to put the finishing touches on an emphatic win.
Up Next
Phoenix hosts the Oklahoma City Thunder for their 18th meeting (sarcasm font) in the last month on Sunday night at Mortgage Matchup Arena.
