Suns storm back in season opener: From flat first half to furious finish vs. Kings

The new-look Phoenix Suns looked like “same old Suns” for two quarters — then flipped the script.

Sacramento blitzed Phoenix early and led 71–54 at halftime behind hot shooting, including 22 first-half points from Zach LaVine. But Jordan Ott’s debut as head coach turned into a statement win after the break: the Suns tightened the screws on defense, dominated the glass, and outscored the Kings 66–45 to win 120–116 at The Morg. ESPN.com+1

How the comeback happened

• Halftime hole: The Kings shot 64% in the first half and built a 17-point lead. ESPN.com

• Third-quarter surge: Phoenix cut it to 92–90 entering the fourth, then took its first 2H lead on a Royce O’Neale three. ESPN.com

• Closing time: With 1:15 left and the game tied, Dillon Brooks drew a foul on a 3 and hit all three free throws; the Suns never trailed again. ESPN.com

Box-score leaders & notes

• Devin Booker: 31 pts (10-19 FG), 5 reb, 5 ast. ESPN.com

• Dillon Brooks: 22 pts in his Suns debut, plus rugged late-game defense on DeMar DeRozan. ESPN.com

• Grayson Allen: 18 pts, 7 ast. Bench boards: Phoenix won the glass 51–37 and hammered the paint (64 pts). Bright Side Of The Sun

• Kings: LaVine 30, DeRozan 29, Malik Monk 19; Domantas Sabonis (hamstring) DNP. Russell Westbrook, who signed with the Kings last week, had 6 pts, 6 reb. ESPN.com

Context: the “low-expectations” Suns

Phoenix entered 2025-26 after moving on from its former stars. Kevin Durant was traded to Houston this summer (part of a seven-team deal) and just signed a two-year extension with the Rockets; Bradley Beal agreed to a buyout and joined the Clippers. Durant has leaned into the vibe shift, even posting “No expectations = better vibes.” X (formerly Twitter)+4NBA+4ESPN.com+4

What’s next

Next game: Suns at LA Clippers, Friday, Oct. 24, 2025 (Intuit Dome, Inglewood). ESPN.com

Odds (consensus range as of today): Clippers -9.5, total ~225.5, Suns moneyline around +320 (Clippers 425). Lines vary by book; check your book before wagering. ESPN.com+2FanDuel+2

Quick take

This was a classic “identity” win: ugly shooting night from deep, but elite effort — rebounding, paint pressure, and timely stops — plus stars making just enough plays late. If that defensive intensity from the second half travels, those “plummeting expectations” might be selling Phoenix short. Bright Side Of The Sun

Sources: AP/ESPN recap & odds board; NBA.com box/series page; Bright Side of the Sun advanced notes; transaction context via ESPN/NBA/SI; Durant quote via X. X (formerly Twitter)+6ESPN.com+6NBA+6