By Juan Blanco, RotoWire
Six players scored in double figures for the Phoenix Suns as they squeaked past the Sacramento Kings, 89-85, in the Las Vegas Summer League opener for both teams Friday at Cox Pavilion.
The game featured 14 ties and 17 lead changes, but the Suns never gave up the lead in the fourth quarter, increasing their one-point advantage, 66-65, at the start of the period to as many as seven. Neither team scored in the last 1:21.
Phoenix’s two first-round picks from 2016, Marquese Chriss and Josh Jackson, led the way. Chriss totaled 19 points and nine rebounds, and Jackson added 18 points and eight rebounds. Neither shot well, though, with Chriss going 5-of-17 from the field, including 0-for-4 from long range, while Jackson shot 6-of-17 and missed both of his three-pointers. Chriss also committed eight turnovers.
Davon Reed, a 2017 second-round pick, had a strong debut, finishing with 17 points. Mike James totaled 12 points, seven assists, six rebounds and four steals. Dragan Bender posted 11 point and five rebounds, and Derrick Jones Jr. had 10 points.
Like the Suns, the Kings also received impressive efforts from a pair of their most promising prospects. Both of this year’s first-round picks, De’Aaron Fox and Justin Jackson, scored 18 points. Fox added four assists, three rebounds, five steals and a block.
Second-year sharpshooter Buddy Hield totaled 16 points and five rebounds, and Jack Cooley had 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Harry Giles, Sacramento’s third first-round pick in the June draft, did not play.
Both teams play Sunday, with the Kings facing the Memphis Grizzlies and the Suns facing the Dallas Mavericks.
