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 Curry scored 20 points and added a career-high 15 assists, and a
watered-down Kings team held off a late rally to beat the Phoenix
Suns 105-101.
The younger brother of reigning league MVP Stephen Curry has bounced
in and out of the NBA, including a 10-day stint with Suns last
season. However, with the Kings playing without five regulars --
resting DeMarcus Cousins, Darren Collison and Rajon Rondo along with
the injured Omri Casspi (hamstring) and Marco Belinelli (foot) --
Curry played 38 minutes and filled the stat sheet.
"The people who have actually watched me know what I can do and have
seen this before, whether it's the D-League or the (NBA) summer
league," Curry said. "I'm trying to take the opportunity that I get
and show who I am. It's nothing new for me. It's just great to get
the minutes.
"I had the ball and I was able to make some plays and show a
different part of my game. The guys did a good job screening for me
and finishing shots."
The Kings (33-48) finish their season in Houston on Wednesday, with
the Rockets needing a win to clinch the final Western Conference
playoff berth and a matchup with Stephen Curry and the Golden State
Warriors in the first round.
However, it was all about the other Curry on Monday. His first
career double-double was the first 20-point, 15-assist game by a
King since Beno Udrih had one in 2010.
"Let's talk about Seth Curry. He had a highlight show in one game,"
Sacramento coach George Karl said. "We talked about how we needed to
get some passing, and Seth jumped up and gave them some solid
passing; some spectacular passing.
"I'm really happy for him. He's put in a lot of work. I'm sure this
is very satisfying to him."
Sacramento center Kosta Koufos had 19 points and eight rebounds, and
Rudy Gay scored four of his 15 after the Suns cut a 17-point Kings
lead to two with three minutes left. Koufos was one of the main
beneficiaries of Curry's assists.
"(Curry) is a heck of a player, and he can do it all. Shoot, pass
... he's got a bright future in front of him, Koufos said. "I'm
proud of our guys. They're playing hard and finishing the season off
strong."
Phoenix's Mirza Teletovic scored a game-high 26 points, and Devin
Booker had 18 of his 22 points in the second half despite foul
trouble. The Suns, who missed a chance to win three straight games
for the first time since mid-November, played without Tyson Chandler
(concussion) and Archie Goodwin (ankle).
"It's important we keep fighting through the whole game," Teletovic
said. "We really didn't have the energy defensively or offensively.
Once we get back to the way we're supposed to play, we always get
back in the game."
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Alex Len added 16 points and 12 rebounds, and P.J. Tucker (15
points, 10 rebounds) and Jon Leuer (12 points, 10 boards) also had
double-doubles for Phoenix.
The Suns (22-59) trailed by as many as 17 and were down 94-79 in the
fourth quarter. However, they reeled off 13 straight points, and
Teletovic followed a put-back by Tucker with 3-pointer with 3:12
left to shave the Kings' lead to 94-92.
Gay hit a 12-foot jumper on the next Sacramento possession and
finished a Ben McLemore steal with a dunk to restore the Kings' lead
to 98-92 with 2:12 to go.
A 3-pointer by Teletovic and two free throws by Leuer got Phoenix
back within 101-99, but Booker missed a 14-footer with a chance to
tie, and two free throws each by James Anderson and Quincy Acy gave
the Kings enough room to win.
"I feel like (making that shot) is what's expected of me," said
Booker, who was 8-for-20 from the field and played 21 minutes in the
second half with four fouls. "I've put hours in the gym. I've
thought and envisioned that shot plenty of times, and for it not to
go in is disappointing."
NOTES: Sacramento coach George Karl on the idea of resting players
with his team long since eliminated from playoff contention. "I'm
not philosophizing about what's going on in the NBA today; it just
gets me in trouble. It's interesting, and it probably should be
discussed." ... Suns G Devin Booker surpassed the 1,000-point mark
at 19 years, 162 days. Only Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and LeBron
James reached the 1,000-point mark at a younger age. He is the fifth
Suns rookie to score 1,000 points, joining Alvan Adams, Walter
Davis, Michael Finley and Amar'e Stoudemire. ... Phoenix SF P.J.
Tucker recorded four of his seven double-doubles this season in the
past seven games. He averaged 14 points and 9.6 rebounds over that
span while hitting 24 of 26 free throws. ... The Kings won at least
30 games for the first time since going 38-44 in the 2007-08 season.
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