FINAL
Suns 98, Kings 84
On a cold shooting night, the Kings could not keep up with the Phoenix Suns, who shot 50 percent from the floor en route to a 98-84 win at Power Balance Pavilion.
The Kings shot 35 percent. DeMarcus Cousins had 26 points and 9 rebounds and guard Marcus Thornton scored 21 points for the Kings, who fell to 10-17.
Jared Dudley had 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Suns, who also received 18 points from Markieff Morris off the bench. Steve Nash finished with 15 assists after sitting out the second quarter.
The Kings had 11 shots blocked, a game after they had 17 shots blocked by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Tyreke Evans had 4 points on 1-of-9 shooting.
THIRD QUARTER
Suns 75, Kings 60
The Kings will need another big fourth-quarter comeback if they want to win this one.
Phoenix has shot 53 percent from the floor through three quarters, led by 17 points from Jared Dudley and 15 points from center Marcin Gortat.
Marcus Thornton has 20 points to lead the Kings.
The Suns have been able to overcome 16 turnovers with good shooting.
Steve Nash returned to the floor to start the third quarter after getting stitches in his lip and had 6 assists in the quarter, giving him 12 for the game.
HALFTIME
Suns 53, Kings 44
Even with guard Steve Nash on the bench for the entire second quarter, the Suns are shooting 50 percent and lead the Kings at halftime.
The Kings have been unable to keep up with Phoenix's shooting, making 38 percent of their attempts from the floor.
Guard Tyreke Evans is the only Kings starter who does not have three fouls.
Jared Dudley has 13 points and Marcin Gortat has 9 points and 5 rebounds for the Suns.
DeMarcus Cousins and Marcus Thornton each have 11 points to lead the Kings. Evans has two points on 1-of-7 shooting.
Nash left the game at the end of the first quarter and went to the locker room with a cut lip. He returned to the bench in the second quarter but did not return to the game. Suns guard Sebastian Telfair has 4 assists of the bench.
FIRST QUARTER
Suns 31, Kings 24
The Phoenix Suns made 7 of 9 shots to start the game and lead the Kings, 31-24, after the first quarter.
The Suns shot 58 percent in the quarter (11-for-19), while the Kings shot 40 percent (10-for-25).
Channing Frye and Jared Dudley each scored 8 points for the Suns.
DeMarcus Cousins has 11 points for the Kings, while guard Isaiah Thomas has 5 points off the bench. Kings forward John Salmons picked up his third foul with 3:03 left in the quarter, bringing Donte Greene off the bench early.
Suns guard Steve Nash had 6 assists in the quarter.
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