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What We Learned From #SunsVsKings

Despite all the changes the Kings have gone through this season, they've certainly been a thorn in the Suns' side.

Sacramento won two of the first three of four meetings this season, including a double overtime contest won by the Kings in the first meeting. The Kings won the most recent meeting on a DeMarcus Cousins buzzer-beater, 85-83.

Unfortunately for the Suns, the trend continued in a 108-99 loss against the Kings at home Wednesday.

"Well it’s the same thing we talk about all the time - you can’t let a team get going in the first quarter," Hornacek said after the game. "We gave them 31 points to start the game. If a team scores 31, we know how it is when we’re on the road and we score 30 points in the first quarter, now you feel confident that you can score on the team and that’s what happened. We never really got to stop them."

A few takeaways:

3. Intangibles went the Kings' way

In games since March 15, the Suns ranked 1st with a Defensive Rating (points allowed per 100 possessions) of 90.7, 2nd with 88.8 points allowed per game and t-3rd with an opponent’s field goal percentage of 41.6 percent.

Against the Kings, however, Phoenix allowed 108 points, 49.4 percent shooting and eight three-pointers. The Suns actually out-rebounded the Kings 46-43, but Sacramento shot 20-of-23 from the charity stripe while the Suns finished 17-of-26 for an uncharacteristically 65.4 percent.

"We just let them get too comfortable in the first quarter," Brandan Wright said. "We gave up 31 points…they got some layups, easy shots. Anytime they wanted they got easy shots; it’s easy to have a good night."

The Suns remain three games back of the Thunder for the 8th seed, with games against Portland, Oklahoma City, Portland and Golden State looming.

“I’m a little weak right now, but when you step on the court, all excuses go out the window," Eric Bledsoe said as he continues to nurse a stomach virus. "Nobody cares if you’re sick. No excuses. We have to keep fighting. We're right there."

2. Archie Goodwin continues to impress

The Suns currently rank tied for 4th in the NBA with 39.8 points per game scored by their bench.

In their previous four games with injuries to Brandon Knight and Alex Len, they've relied on valuable bench production from every position.

Lately, though, Archie Goodwin has found a groove. Against the Kings Wednesday, Archie Goodwin scored a season-high 15 points in a season-high 26 minutes. Both of those totals are Goodwin’s highest since recording 29 points in 31 minutes at Sacramento on April 16, 2014.

1. The Morris twins are rollin'

Since the All-Star Break, Markieff Morris (16.3 points and 5.8 rebounds) and Marcus Morris (11.6 points and 6.5 rebounds) are averaging a combined 27.9 points and 12.3 rebounds per game.

With a combined 43 points against the Kings, the trend doesn't seem to be ending any time soon.

Markieff led the Suns with 24 points on 9-of-16 shooting from the field and 5-of-6 from the line in addition to seven rebounds, four assists and two steals. This is Markieff’s 18th 20-point game of the season, matching his total from last season for the most 20-point games in a season of his career.

Marcus scored 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including 3-of-6 three-pointers, with 10 points coming in the fourth quarter. Marcus has now scored 17-plus points in four of his last six games, averaging 14.5 points on 46.1 percent shooting, 7.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists over this six-game stretch.