Down 71-54 at halftime, Ott’s side outscored their opposition 36-21 in the next 12 minutes, and led 106-97 with 5:23 remaining in regulation. Yet, they continued to hold the advantage. Dillon Brooks<\/a> made the winning free throws with over one minute left, and Devin Booker<\/a>, who posted his third 30+ point performance in season openers<\/a>, solidified the victory with his team’s final seven points.<\/p>\n When looking at the Suns’ third-quarter comeback against the Kings, one might presume Booker, who led both teams in points, was the catalyst. But it actually came from his understudies. Specifically, when he was off the court.<\/p>\n Grayson Allen<\/a>, who received the shooting guard start in lieu of an injured Jalen Green<\/a>, scored 13 of his 18 points in the final 24 minutes. Starting the comeback with his team’s first second-half points, he also cut the deficit to two with less than a minute remaining in the third quarter.<\/p>\n Collin Gillespie<\/a>, who sometimes checked in for Allen, had a +9 rating with his seven points, four assists and two rebounds. He scored all of his points in the second half, which included giving the Suns their largest lead of the night: a 101-94 edge with 8:28 left in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n “It was a little bit of everybody, and that’s the way it should be,” Gillespie said in a live interview on the Suns TV network’s postgame show. “If you’re not making shots, guys gotta contribute in others ways and find little things to do.”<\/p>\n Many questions surrounded Mark Williams<\/a> going into the 2025-26 season. Coming to Phoenix after a breakthrough season with the Charlotte Hornets, he faced injury problems, not playing a single minute in preseason. The absences reached a point where the Suns did not grant his rookie scale extension<\/a>.<\/p>\n With Khaman Maluach<\/a> ruled out via coach’s decision, and Oso Ighodaro<\/a> getting the start at center, Williams found himself in a position he only played in three times last season: a bench player. Yet, he impacted the game with six points, 11 rebounds and two blocks, culminating in a +15 rating. He only posted a score better than that once in 2024-25, during a 31-point, 13-rebound showing in a 117-112 win over the Utah Jazz on January 15th.<\/p>\nSuns Showcase New, Gritty Culture in Comeback Win over Kings<\/h2>\n
Allen, Gillespie spur energy in the second half<\/h3>\n
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Williams makes Suns debut as much needed anchor<\/h3>\n