Devin Booker scored 22 points and Kelly Oubre Jr. added 21 to lead a balanced attack as the host Phoenix Suns pulled away from the Sacramento Kings 124-95 on Wednesday in the season opener for both teams.
Deandre Ayton had 18 points and 11 rebounds, and new point guard Ricky Rubio contributed 11 points and 11 assists in his Suns debut after signing a three-year, $15 million free agent deal this summer.
Six Suns scored in double figures in coach Monty Williams' debut, and Booker handed out 10 assists.
Buddy Hield had 28 points and sank six 3-pointers, Marvin Bagley III scored 14 points, Harrison Barnes had 12 and Cory Joseph 10 for the Kings in coach Luke Walton's debut. Walton spent the previous three seasons as the Los Angeles Lakers' coach.
The Suns outscored the Kings 70-36 in the second half and shot 59.7 percent from the field in the half, climbing to 50 percent for the game. The Kings shot 39.1 percent and were 11 of 40 (27.5 percent) from the field in the second half.
The Suns broke the game open with a 34-15 run that began midway through the third quarter, jumping from a 64-64 tie to take a 98-79 lead with 7:37 left in the game.
During the surge, Phoenix reserve guard Jevon Carter made two consecutive 3-pointers to stretch the lead to 83-73 late in the third quarter. Reserve guard Tyler Johnson made two threes and a mid-range jumper to cap the run.
Hield, planning his first game since finalizing a four-year, $94 million max contract extension Monday, had 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting with five treys in the first half. He was 2-for-7 from the floor with one 3-pointer in the second half.
Kings guard De'Aaron Fox, limited by foul trouble, had eight points, five assists and five turnovers. He picked up three fouls in the first half and played only 27 minutes.
The Suns had 68 points in the paint to the Kings' 34.
--Field Level Media
Sacramento | Phoenix | |
Buddy Hield 28 | Scoring | Devin Booker 22 |
De'Aaron Fox 5 | Assists | Ricky Rubio 11 |
Marvin Bagley III 10 | Rebounds | Deandre Ayton 11 |
Cory Joseph 4 | Free Throws Made | Kelly Oubre Jr. 4 |
Nemanja Bjelica 2 | Steals | Ricky Rubio 4 |
Marvin Bagley III 1 | Blocks | Deandre Ayton 4 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Sacramento | 95 | 39.1 | 10-29 | 17-26 | 17 | 47 | 5 | 5 | 27 |
Phoenix | 124 | 50.0 | 11-33 | 15-18 | 31 | 44 | 9 | 13 | 14 |