The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

SATURDAY’S NBA schedule featured the end of a five-game winning streak for Deandre Ayton’s Phoenix Suns and the end of Chavano “Buddy” Hield’s four-game streak scoring at least 20 points.

Ayton finished with 14 points, 12 rebounds and two blocked shots in a 122-111 loss to the Indiana Pacers at the PHX Arena in Phoenix Arizona.

The Suns, 25-12, are still the No.2 seed in the Western Conference standings behind the Utah Jazz.

Ayton now has 21 double doubles on the season, tied at No.12 in the league with Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Suns led 33-29 after the first quarter but the Pacers opened the second with a 12-0 run, hitting five of their first six shots to take a 41-33 advantage in the first three minutes.

The Pacers had a 62-57 lead at halftime.

Phoenix went cold in the third quarter, hitting only seven shots in 22 attempts. The Pacers capitalised, taking a 97-77 lead into the fourth.

The Suns look to restart their win streak tonight when they host the Memphis Grizzlies. The Suns are 12-7 at home and 13-5 on the road.

Hield scored 10 points in the Kings’ 121-106 loss to the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. He shot 4-16 from the field and 2-11 from three-point range. Hield also added five rebounds and four assists.

The Kings took an early 33-22 lead at the end of the first quarter, despite making just two of its first 13 attempts. The second quarter was a complete turnaround as the Hawks outscored the Kings 39-18. A Rajon Rondo three as a part of a 14-3 run gave the Hawks the lead for good, 36-35.

The Kings trailed 61-51 headed into the half and were outscored 37-30 for a 97-81 lead.

“Until we realise and until we get better at playing defence, it’s going to be hard to win,” Kings head coach Luke Walton said. “Tonight it’s like, I can point at a lot of things we can do better, and that’s pretty much every game, but we shot 20% from 3. Most nights that’s not going to happen, but the message to our guys is, ‘Listen, we can’t just rely on scoring to either stay in games or win games. Right now, that’s kind of what we’re doing most nights out.”

The Kings are ranked last in the league in defensive rating. The Kings will continue their road trip with tonight’s matchup against the Charlotte Hornets.

Hield averaged 25 points per game in the previous four contests, which began with 30 points in a February 28 loss to the Hornets.