Road Reaction Show: Kings make it four in a row

Before tonight, the Sacramento Kings (26-44) hadn’t won four games in a row since the first week of the season.  That all changed tonight in Phoenix where Sacramento dealt the Suns’ (38-34) playoff hopes a huge blow.  It wasn’t pretty, but seven Kings scored in double-figures on the way to a 108-99 victory at the US Airways Center.

DeMarcus Cousins dropped in his 43rd double-double of the season, finishing with 24 points and 11 rebounds.  Rudy Gay added 14 points on 3-for-7 shooting and 8-of-9 from the line, while Nik Stauskas chipped in 13 off the bench.

Join James Ham and Rui Thomas for the Road Reaction Postgame Show on Google+ after the game. The show can be watched on the video player embedded below. You can also join the discussion of tonight’s game by leaving a comment at the bottom of the page.

What to watch

1. Extreme Makeover: NBA Edition

Since the last time these two teams met, both underwent major overhauls. The Kings acquired a new head coach and point guard, while the Suns scrambled their roster with several trades. Sacramento comes into the match on a three-game winning steak, and Phoenix a four-game tear, which may partly justify these personnel moves.

2. Twinning

The Morris twins have underwhelmed in three games versus the Kings this season. Markieff averaged 13.7 points on 42.9 percent shooting but only three rebounds, and Marcus produced 11.3 points on 37.5 percent shooting and 7.3 rebounds. No coincidence Phoenix is 1-2 against Sacramento. Their performance will be significant on the outcome.

3. Turnovers galore

Since the trade deadline, the Suns have spilled an unhealthy 16.4 turnovers a contest. Meanwhile, the Kings have started to defend more aggressively, forcing their last two opponents to lose a combined 38 turnovers. Phoenix limited their giveaways to 14 a game in the Sacramento season series, but they employed ball handlers Goran Dragic and Isaiah Thomas back then. The Kings should be out for blood.