Suns vs Kings Preview (10/22/2025)

Opening night brings an intriguing style clash. Phoenix leans on Devin Booker to steer a spread pick and roll attack with shooting around him. Sacramento must reinvent itself without Domantas Sabonis and Keegan Murray, which shifts a lot of creation to the guard room.

Injury report

Suns:

• Jalen Green is out with a right hamstring strain.

• Grayson Allen is listed as probable with left hip soreness.

Kings

• Domantas Sabonis is out with a right hamstring strain.

• Keegan Murray is out with a left thumb UCL issue.

• Isaac Jones is out due to illness.

How Phoenix wants to play

Booker is the primary engine. Expect a steady diet of high ball screens, empty corner pick and roll, and elbow touches that flow into drive and kick threes. With Allen likely available, Phoenix can keep the floor wide, run five out spacing, and sprinkle in Spain pick and roll when teams switch. Off the ball, look for guard to guard actions that force mismatches and invite Booker to hunt favorable defenders.

On defense, the Suns will try to keep the ball in front, scram out of mismatches, and avoid live ball turnovers that feed Sacramento’s transition. Limiting fouls is a priority so the half court defense can get set.

How Sacramento adapts without its hub

No Sabonis means the classic dribble handoff hub and elbow split game is not the same centerpiece. The Kings shift toward guard creation with on ball attacks, mid post isolations, and two man pick and roll. Dennis Schroder’s pressure at the point, plus wings like Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, can manufacture paint touches and free throws. Frontcourt minutes likely tilt toward veterans such as Dario Saric and Drew Eubanks to keep structure on both ends.

Defensively, Sacramento must show help early on Booker while staying home on corner shooters. Expect some switch then scram principles and a few pockets of zone to protect the paint and the glass.

Tactical battlegrounds

1. Devin Booker vs the point of attack: If Sacramento uses smaller lineups, Phoenix will spam high pick and roll to force a second defender at the nail. The Kings must stunt and recover without surrendering catch and shoot looks.

2. Defensive rebounding: Sabonis is elite on the glass. Without him, the Kings have to gang rebound. If Phoenix controls the boards, Sacramento loses easy transition chances.

3. Free throws and the midrange: DeRozan and LaVine can live at the line and from the elbows. Phoenix needs early help at the elbows, quick digs on spins, and discipline to contest without fouling.

4. Bench creation: If Allen is limited, second unit shot creation for Phoenix dips. Sacramento can swing a quarter with Russell Westbrook and Malik Monk pushing pace. Non Booker minutes are a leverage point.

Prediction

Availability favors Phoenix. The Suns are managing one certain absence in Green and a probable in Allen. The Kings are down two core starters in Sabonis and Murray. That is a significant hit to their offense, spacing, and rebounding on opening night, and it forces a temporary identity shift away from their usual dribble handoff rhythm.

Booker controls tempo, Phoenix spacing holds, and the Suns find enough threes and rim pressure to separate late. Sacramento’s guards keep it competitive, but without Sabonis as a handoff and rebounding hub and without Murray’s spacing, the Kings will struggle to create consistent half court efficiency in crunch time.

Give me Phoenix -4