SACRAMENTO -- Better effort, same result.
For the second game in a row, the Kings (12-20) allowed a struggling team on an extended losing streak to leave Golden 1 Center with a victory.
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Devin Booker lit the Kings up for 32 points and 10 assists to help Phoenix Suns (12-20) snap an eight-game losing streak in a 112-110 win. Kelly Oubre chipped in a 20-point, 16-rebound performance and Aron Baynes hurt the Kings in the fourth.
Here are three takeaways from the Kings' sixth straight loss.
Buddy Buckets
It has been a wild couple of days for Buddy Hield. Sacramento’s leading scorer went on a post-game rant following the team’s loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and then he apologized to his teammates before Friday’s practice.
NBA
Against the Suns, Hield finally started to look like his old self. It wasn’t a perfect game, but he managed to score 23 points on 8-of-17 shooting, and he hit 4-of-6 3-pointers.
This was the first time in seven games that Hield managed to crest the 20 point mark.
Bogi bombs
In his second game back from injury, Bogdan Bogdanovic looked fresh against the Suns.
After shooting just 8-of-28 in his last game out, Bogdanovic was an efficient 8-of-12 from the field and he knocked down 5-for-7 from long range on his way to 22 points.
Bogdanovic also turned the ball over four times, and his foul on a desperation shot to end the first quarter wasn’t his finest moment. But, the Kings need more games like this from their sixth man.
[RELATED: Bagley out for Kings' next few games with left midfoot sprain]
Barnes breaks out
Like Hield, Harrison Barnes has been in a rut over the last few games. He snapped out of his funk against the Suns and helped keep the Kings in the game.
Barnes finished the night with his third double-double of the season, posting 21 points on 7-for-15 shooting with 10 rebounds.
Unfortunately for the Kings, he missed a wide-open 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have won the game.